Does anyone know anything about gardening?

I have a tardis compost bin, in case that changes anything

is there a city wide geranium shortage, there’s not been any in our local bnq for, like, two years?

conspiracy thread?

Went to the garden centre for compost and ended up getting a dogwood after all that procrastination. cornus alba 'sibirica' (tatarian dogwood).

So this afternoon was:

• digging soil from the dpm and adding stones
  
• an epic weeding sesh (which I still feel wasn't diligent enough) to make space for the dogwood and other plants when they arrive
  
• rearranged some crocuses and flag irises
  
  
  

Tbh I think I need to have a proper go at digging up all the blubs from the bed in autumn. There are loads all over the place and they need a bit of curating. Some look to be too shallow too.

Still a way to go, but it's a satisfying start.

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I tend to give away plants on local groups.

If it's something easy to grow that's nice why not freegle it?

Our b&q also rarely sells them, strange as it is an easy to grow plant.

I'm not really sure these would be wanted. I don't even know what they are.

Speaking of giving plants away, I've been meaning to dig up a load of elephant ears / bergenia. They don't flower particularly well but they're in a very shaded spot so they might do better in a little sun. I might even get round to it tomorrow or next weekend. Any takers in SE6 to save them from becoming compost?

Put it in, close the lid. Job done. Chop it up a bit if you want to speed things along, or run over it with a mower

where do i source some that isn’t too fancy?

Do you reckon there's any risk of them just growing in there or being dormant?

I’m in south Lincolnshire, any idea when the frosts stop? I’ve got some dahlias I’m desperate to get in the ground.

Tubers? April I would have thought...

Not if you're excluding light. It's possible the roots will survive a while and re-sprout when you use the compost, but the longer you leave it the less likely that is.

This morning I have mainly been pollarding our walnut tree. It’s not it’s first rodeo, but let’s see if it comes back this time

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Does it produce any fruit between pollardings?

Surprisingly yes, it tries the first season, but the squirrels get loads the next one. I really do it for the beanpoles and so I don’t have to clear next doors gutters though.

They are easy to get online, I haven't seen them yet in the garden centres in Belfast so if you want to go local ring first.

I have geranium x oxanium in pink I can post you some of that's what you are after?

Tough as old boots in Belfast moderate not too hot climate, idk if they are happy in baking sand though.

Wow, yes, I think we’d like that very much but I think it i too much of a faff to send from Belfast. Originally we were after some spanish style bedding geraniums- i’ll get some online

Our lawn is too high on one side of our patio by about 3 or 4". I want the patio edge to be flush with the lawn edge so I'm going to dig some of it up to make it blend in.

What I'm trying to work out is how far back I'm going to have to dig to blend it in. I'm not aiming for a truely level lawn or anything. Just something consistent looking / discreet gradient

Is there a formula to this? Like an inch per foot or something?

Also can someone recommend a reasonably priced spade that would be good for digging up a lawn.

Cheers.

Treat yourself to a quality border spade, narrower than a standard spade.

If the lawn is good then get yourself one of these to lift the turf https://www.powertoolsdirect.com/faithfull-countryman-turfing-iron
Dig out the soil below and then relay the turf. Saves a load of time against trying to get useable bits with a spade.

Beech hedge is on my neighbours side of the boundary, so I'm not yet allowed to bring the height down (they'll be fine if I offer im sure) for more light but I reclaimed a good amount of garden space back this afternoon.

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First seeds of the year are in the propagator

Anyone had luck with hollyhocks before? Fancy some for along the back fence at the allotment.
Threw some seeds around last year but nothing happened.
Plug plants?