Gardening tips

Oh, just consider yourself 'privileged'.

This geranium has been here for about fifteen years with no major expansion attempts. There are others about the place with a similar self-contained approach to life.

 

There are various species of Matricaria (Chamomiles), trying to work out what this one is but stepson has piled a load of boxes in front of the required books.

 

The weedy ones look like Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), a complete pain in the ...

 

The weedy ones are Herb Robert, but THIS is the offending Geranium (bottom right, still flowering) .... Its everywhere...



I have some serious weeding to do.

 

The Main Crop of Geraniums here occurs along this hedge embankment. There are a few escapees, but they seem well behaved enough.

 

Yes... I think I've got some of them Germans in my garden. When I walk past, they all click their heels and stand to attention. I'll try Seek on them later.

 

Our Peonies went bonkers this year, the heavy rain has knackered them now though.

 

I tried the Seek app on what I thought were those German plants, and it said: Brambles.

(Some kind of disguise being used by the Wehrmacht I think.)

 

Possibly small-flowered cranesbill (Geranium pusillum) or doves-foot cranesbill (Geranium molle) - or a close relative. Little buggers hurl their seeds all over the place.

 

Yup, they pop, you can actually hear them exploding (sat on the patio with them firing all around you in the heat) also the stems.... I think if you leave even the smallest bit behind they manage to grow a while new plant.

 

Used to be used as a scouring pad as well.

 

I've done that. Dried it and used it like Scotchbrite - it puts a nice, soft lustre on softer metals, particularly pewter.

I imagine that the silica crystals were an attempt to put the dinosaurs off browsing them too much...

 

It doesn't matter how dried up the garlic clove/bulb looks, it will still sprout and make a new plant, the same with onions, spring onions and celary....

 

I didn't know this.

I believe nettles can also be used as a nitrogen rich fertiliser

 

It was a primary 'tree' in the forests that gave us coal - a lot bigger in the old days - probably just waiting for us to clear off now...

 

Bananas !! Dinosaurs !! Metal polish !! random selections from the Periodic Table ... ???

(Is it any wonder I don't like gardening ?)

 

Possibly quite high in phosphate as well

 

It will take a sustained campaign with a systemic weedkiller to defeat it. and as you say, you do need to provide a way through the waxy skin for the chemical to gain access.

 

I’m loving the seek ap. I’m wondering round the garden taking photos of all the plants.
I’m tempting to try to introduce my dad to the app but he’s not mastered texting yet so it might be too bigger task.

 

It is mildly addictive, when I first downloaded it I spent two days even checking plants I already knew just for the hell of it, barmy I know.