Does anyone know anything about gardening?

Is it a bad idea to buy tulip/daffodil bulbs now? I'm guessing they don't need to be planted until november time? Dobies have some decent offers on at the moment, is all.

I think the issue is storage. Presumably somewhere cool and dark. I’ve just bought a load of gladioli bulbs for next year. But will be doing the same as you, buying tulips in bulk while they’re cheap.

Sorry, just seen they'll deliver within 21 days which gives me a bit more time. Daffs can go in earlier apparently.

tetrapanex

One of my favorites. Mine is only a year or so old and has been struggling a bit in the drought, but I love how it looks so jungly and alien and yet still manages to blend well with other more normal things.

Monty did a feature in one of his shows, of a garden in Venice, that had a recurring theme of tetrapanax underplanted with hydrangea limelight. Sounds like it wouldn't work at all but it looked amazing

Mine in amongst an elder and euphorbia mellifera and various other overgrown things...

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Any suggestions for comfy garden seating that doesn't take up much space (both in use and, in particular, in storage)?

Did somebody say tree fern?

I picked this up from Columbia Road about 6 years ago, for the princely sum of £120.

I've been looking for a Tetrapanex for a year now but with no luck.

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Impressive tree transport.

I can’t wait to get it. But they’re having bad weather in Tasmania and this particular supplier I’m looking at won’t have any for about a month.

Have managed to sprout some Persian Silk Tree seedlings. Now just need to keep them alive.

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I've been looking for a Tetrapanex for a year now but with no luck.

https://www.bigplantnursery.co.uk/shop/plants/big-leaves/tetrapanax-papyrifer-rex/

Any good?

^ these guys also have a great little cafe hidden through the jungle at the back, with a bunch of bike parking and are definitely cyclist-friendly. Worth the visit for this alone, but also tonnes of good plants.

I ended up waiting months for my tree fern which I originally ordered in one of the lockdowns.

It did show up and is doing quite nicely now.

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QQ, I've never had a garden when there's been a hosepipe ban on before. Assume I can fill a watering can from a hose then water from that?

BBC News - Thames Water plans to introduce hosepipe ban 'in weeks'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-62478141

Disconnect the hose and fill from the tap?

Thanks. I was hoping for bigger but I think that I'll go for it and stick it in a pot for a bit.

Hosepipe ban means you can’t use a hosepipe. If you have a big garden and you’re worried about the inconvenience of having to lug a full watering can from the tap to the other end of the garden, that’s part of the point of the hosepipe ban. It makes life more difficult and in doing so forces you to conserve water. Because who can be fucked doing that many watering can trips?

If some of your plants die, well, let’s face it, this climate situation isn’t going to get any better any time soon. Water the ones you love the most and replace the ones that die with something more drought resistant.

Monty Don says if you want a tree fern of a specific size get that size because they take so long to grow. So I’m going all in and getting a 7 footer

If some of your plants die, well, let’s face it, this climate situation isn’t going to get any better any time soon. Water the ones you love the most and replace the ones that die with something more drought resistant.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/01/blooming-essex-garden-rhs-hyde-hall-future-horticulture-heating-uk

I love them but this is what puts me off, it's like 1cm a year growth or something isn't it?

Last time I saw a nice big one in a garden centre it was something like £500 which I could never justify

The one I’m looking at is £369 and 7ft. I’ve wanted one for years.

I want my garden to be Jurassic park meets wild flower meadow.

There's some place out in North London that does wholesale plants. I'll see if I can get the name off my mate.

However, if you want a big tree Fern, you need to buy one. That said if you have a potted one, you can always raise the pot.

Sounds incred

My theme is 'cottage garden nightmare'

I've always fancied a tree fern too, after they appeared on everything from Garden Rescue to Monty Don they seem to have shot up in price...

https://palmcentre.co.uk/products/outdoor-plants/fern/dicksonia-antarctica/

Just £487 on sale

Probably the first live hedgehog I've seen this century, certainly in our back garden.

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