Gardening tips.

[Gramaisc]

We may end up having to get the microchip catflap, within 2 days next doors cat had worked out how to open the magnetic one using a claw to pull it open from outside. He's a lovely & loving cat, unfortunately he likes to pee everywhere, and I mean everywhere!

Oh, just consider yourself 'privileged'.

The geraniums (Wednesday weed or maybe Cranesbill?) are the bane of my life, one small clump has taken over the whole garden. At first they were useful as ground cover to stop cats, now they are everywhere, as fast as I pull them up, they reappear. The bees love them though.

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.

 

[Noah]

But what are these....

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.

 

[Noah]

The geraniums (Wednesday weed or maybe Cranesbill?)

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

 

[littleme]

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.

 

[Gramaisc]

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

 

[BobClay]

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.

 

[Trumpet]

We have 2 peonys, one in the front garden, one in the back, this year neither have flowered - no idea why, maybe winter was too wet...

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

 

[BobClay]

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

View attachment 8683

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.)

 

[Noah]

THIS is the offending Geranium (bottom right, still flowering) .... Its everywhere...

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.

 

[littleme]

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.

 

[Noah]

But it can be boiled in water and then used as a fertilizer. It's rich in silicon so can also be sprayed on plants to help prevent fungus or rust as well.

Used to be used as a scouring pad as well.

 

[Gramaisc]

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...

 

[littleme]

Marestail (pictured below) is a very invasive weed. It's roots go up to 5 feet down. But it can be boiled in water and then used as a fertilizer. It's rich in silicon so can also be sprayed on plants to help prevent fungus or rust as well.View attachment 8690

Also a great tip for roses is to put your unwanted banana skins on the base of your roses (or even over ripe whole bananas) as the potassium is really good for them. You can also companion plant any sprouting garlic bulbs from your cupboard by your roses (or by your tomatoes too) and they will deter green/black fly and the roots add nitrogen to the soil.

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....

 

[littleme]

Used to be used as a scouring pad as well.

I didn't know this.

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

 

[Gramaisc]

I think it's problematic for grazing horses too? And it definitely looks prehistoric

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...

 

[BobClay]

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

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

 

[Noah]

nettles can also be used as a nitrogen rich fertiliser

Possibly quite high in phosphate as well

 

[Gramaisc]

If you get them in your garden they're a devil to get rid of because of how deep their roots go. Best advice I've seen on the tintermewebathingyabob is to bruise/crush the leaves on the living plant and then apply a systematic weed killer.

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.

 

[peggy]

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.

 

[Trumpet]

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.