Forum

How do you prune a weeping willow?

I picked up on a news item today about a willow tree - dubbed Old Man Willow - that had been hard pruned to the extent that all branches were removed, leaving just the trunk; pollard?

See it here:
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1

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Buxus balls, cones and spirals, a cheap, lazy option in Garden Design?

Has Buxus sempervirens in it's many forms, now become the Lonicera nitida of gardens, just another amenity plant or filler?

 

My view has been formed over the last thirty years and, yes based on selling thousands of them. 

 

Some 9 years ago, my then emp

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At Abbotsbury subtropical gardens today

Always on "the list" of gardens to do, but as it only 20 mins from home, no excuse now.

 

So on a beautiful Autumn day we set off on what is a very nice drive, off the A35 at Winterbourne Abbas, then through some very beautiful countryside, with the se

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Quick plant test - 10 plants for dry shade

No reference books, off the top of your head.

 

No prizes, but everyone on LJ will envy your knowledge.

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Need some help please

Hi All,

 

We currently have 2 options and would like some expert LJ advice as to what you would do in our situation.

 

Option One

 

We could join a group of Local Nurseries offering our plants to a far wider base of customer.  This would mean being paid af

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Autumn is on it's way

Saw my first Jasminum nudiflorum of the season in flower today.In deepest Dorset, west facing garden, still in full leaf, and a dozen flowers.Don't you just love Autumn?

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Ivy at its best

Just thought that you would like to see a picture of ivy looking fabulous. It is growing on a stone pillar and at this time of year it is just seething with bees, wasps and butterflies. Quite a heavy smell coming off it too! If you ask me, it is ivy

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Tree identification website

Thanks everyone for having a go at solving the mystery tree conundrum - it's now been confirmed as a Paper Mulberry. Simon Webster, the person who made the positive ident tells me that he used this site - What tree is this - to narrow down the field.

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Can you identify this tree?

Here's a little test for anyone who loves a good plant identification challenge. There's a tree that proliferates here where I live in south west France but I've no idea what it is. The strange thing is, it has no specific normal leaf shape. Some lea

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Invasive plants to avoid

found this list of invasive plants while browsing so have posted it here as a point of interest.

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What is the difference between Amenity Plants and Garden Centre Plants

I my mind, I have never supplied Amenity grade plants, only first quality plants, on a first come first served basis.I really resent the Amenity Plant tag or "roundabout plants" as we call them are dead, they are and ex-plant! Lonicera nitida, Cotone

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30 years in Commercial Horticulture - 1st September

So 1st September 1980 is when my adventure began.My first task on Monday morning at my first Nursery, digging out a trench for a polytunnel. By the Wednesday of that week, I knew that I had found my career, Horticulture.I learnt my first plant, Buddl

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Plant ID

A client of mine has this tree trailing up against the wall between the windows. We have no idea what it is however, as it was there when they moved in. I've got a section as a close up which you can see is in flower now. Anyone got any idea what it

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Phytophthora hibernalis

Does anyone have any experience with Phytophthora hibernalis?The RHS lab at Wisley identified this in a specimen from a mature yew tree which has been subequently felled. As has one next to it also showing symptoms of sparse canopy cover and a brown

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FREE Deutzia plants 150/175cm

No, it's not a new campaign that I am starting!!!Having taken over an existing Nursery, we have "inherited" around 20 specimen Deutzia plants in the ground. Most are labelled, and there is 1 of each variety. The previous owner planted them for stock

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Life in Piddletrenthide (yes there is)

So June 28th we moved, seems like about 6 months, not 6 weeks so much has happened.A few things happening in the background, which are all very good, but I cannot discuss just yet.The arrival of our two Boxers three weeks ago has been great. We had a

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Recommendations for low-maintenence, shady shrubs and plants?

Hi everyone, I'm new to this network and thought it would be an excellent place to compare opinions on what to plant for a client's garden. Making a plan for next year's plants, and he would like low maintenance, shade loving shrubs. Any thoughts? Pl

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Dying Cherry trees

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing the thinning foliage and poor flowering of several cherry tree varieties including autumnalis and Armanagowa.Also Robinia Frisia which I have noticed dying in several different gardens in and around Sou

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Biscuits please !!!

Our new employees Ronnie on the left and Jasmine on the right after a hard day's work at the Nursery.No potting today,but plenty of weeing, oops sorry weeding,Don't know how HMRC are going to do their returns based on biscuits as payment, but we will

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sick Camellia

hi guys- i would like a second opinion with a dying Camelia.One of my customers planted a big specimen of a Camellia on their land- i've never been particularly happy that it would thrive where they've planted it- but Camellias do grow very well here

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