Does anyone know anything about gardening?

Garden has really come in to full bloom this last week - this is my attempt to create a full herbaceous border and it’s looking pretty good

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Also what is this? PictureThis is telling me it’s ash but I’m finding it all over the place maybe the seeds get blown from Epping forest?

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I've got a few different plants growing in a North facing spot that was a rockery and gets waterlogged over winter. Afternoon sun has made photos tricky. Most of the labels have gone so you might need some detective work.

The main one that spreads easily is called creeping jenny I think.

There is also Ajuga reptans 'Evening Glow'.

Then if anyone can ID the others?

I would also suggest getting a load of poppy seeds as mine seem to grow on the north side fine.

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For the creeping jenny if you want quick coverage you'll need a few as the first year they're a bit slow, but once they get going they'll spread all over.

They flower as well as changing colour which is cool.

what's the deal regarding cutting grass. my lawn is newly turfed, grass seeding right now. Do I;

a) wait to cut until grass seed has fully germinated
b) cut the grass but don't collect

I have a brand new husqvarna hand mower itching to get out there, the month of May has been kind with rainfall and i'm loving my lawn under foot. this will be the first cut ever..

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Definitely looks like ash. The keys get about. Is it annoying to pull up with a tough stem and deep root?

October 2020

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I also have a cheeky ash growing in my garden. I'm going to try to dig it up and put it in a pot as it's growing by the back door.

Looking great. How long have you had that border going for?

Yes, as above, looks like ash. Epping is mainly beech and birch, there is likely to be source closer to home!

For a newly turfed lawn I would generally say keep it moist for a month (the last month looked after that), then mow on a high cut for the first time. Lower the cut height on subsequent mowings. Note: it will grow like buggery in year 1 because soil seeded for turf is heavily fertilised, less so after that.

Also I read some where the other day that you should only take ⅓ off at a time for optimal health.

Thanks @ColinTheBald @hugo7, I’ve cut the lawn at the highest setting on the mower.
As I was doing my first pass I was thinking that in subsequent trips that I establish grass borders uncut for wildlife and sow wildflowers for contrast and grass height, I can’t be arsed to dig borders against each side fence with herbaceous plants.. I will just mow a rectangle in the middle to create something like this, it won’t be established this year but wild flowers to October would be ace .. then mow the lot before the frost returns

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It’s Ash. We have a huge Ash tree next door and get these seedlings coming up all the time.

Thanks everyone - I found about 10 last couple days. One is now about 9 ft but against a fence in an ok position. All others have been pulled up and now know what to look for so less annoying.
@ChasnotRobert we’re in the forest so it could easily be from there or maybe a neighbour has one.

Mostly planted this year!

Ah, should have zoomed/enhanced. I'm sure they're magic flying socks. :)

@Sam_w a left field suggestion, strawberries.

Obviously not as the sole cover of course, but they do fine on the north side have green, flowers and fruit. Plus once you start them on that surface they'll spread and cascade by themselves so you won't need to worry about replacing them for absolutely ages, if ever.

As a bit of fun / experiment I'm trying to grow an outdoor bonsai from an oak that popped up the other year.

I cut it back in the winter, it's leaves are back and this is where we are.

Going to try cutting the leaves in half to make them grow back smaller.

(apologies for the photo - this side of the garden is tough to snap)
Before:

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After:

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Is it in the ground? Will work better as a bonsai in a pot (the roots need to be restricted). My father has an outdoor bonsai horse chestnut, has lived in a pot for at least 20 years.

I have been getting to get wild flowers going on my lawn and I have to say it's quite a struggle if you don't peel the lawn up at all and just sow seeds. I'm in my 4th year and only just getting some results (and mostly a mono culture tbh)

At the very least I would say try and heavily rake before sowing

I’ve tried to plant wildflowers twice and both times it’s been a massive weed fest. I’ve looked at getting one of the rolls of lawn but think I’m gonna give it one last attempt this week.

Maybe put the oak bonsai in a pot and then bury the pot back in the ground?

At the very least I would say try and heavily rake before sowing

my new lawn has gone down a bit too well, i reckon im a few years off creating a wildflower meadow strip. the lawn looked good with the grass seed crop yesterday. this year i will leave a 2 foot uncut border on both flanks ultimately it becomes weaker and the soil becomes loose, them i can introduce different grass types (not too invasive) and wild flowers. Any future lawn treatment i will focus in the centre trimmed area. In time i will add bulbs and annuals to the wild border to generate more interest. I am just grateful that a lawn has been laid and we can enjoy the garden this summer. Also mindful that i want pollinators around. most gardens here are concreted over some with very little nature