Forum

Planting Design Course anyone got an recommendations?

Hi

I want this year to focus more on offering clients plant border redesigns, not so much redesigning the whole garden just focusing on the planting side of things.

I have good plant knowledge but where I struggle is deciding what plants to put togethe

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Acid rain is good for your garden

Sulphur is a key plant nutrient vital to healthy growth, but UK soils are naturally deficient in this essential mineral. Back in the 1980s this was of little concern to growers as these levels were continually topped up by “atmospheric deposition”,

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Tank mixes/spray combinations for ground elder

Morning all,I'm in the process of creating a new herbaceous border for a customer and need to eradicate a substantial area of ground elder which is along one edge of the border to be.My question is: Does anyone have a preferred chemical combination f

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Some insights from Hummelo, with Piet Oudolf & Dr Noel Kingsbury

Hi all,

Just back from Hummelo with Piet and Noel.  Thought I would share what we've been doing.
Best

Elspeth

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Split fig tree

Evening all, 

A maintenance customer of mine contacted me in a bit of a panic this weekend, saying that their treasured standard fig has split down its trunk. I have seen much larger ones that have not done this, so cannot really think of a reason for

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Water cabbage

I have a customer with a running stream coming from a golf course, it runs through her garden and onto a neighbours property which is a 200sqm pond, and runs further on....She wants rid of the water cabbage which has invaded her stretch of stream.It'

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What's happening to my balls (box)?

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Winter Climber

Good evening all,

A client has asked for advice regarding putting a new climbing plant in her garden. Unlike her wisteria and clematis though she wants this one to look alive and well through most of the winter. Having giving it some thought i'm plann

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Privet hedge problems

Hi All,

I'm looking for some advice about a rather sick looking privet hedge belonging to one of my customers. I noticed a couple of small dead patches in it last year, when i went to cut it recently i noticed that on a large section of the hedge the

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Planting in RPA

We have recently been asked to create a planting scheme for a contractor who is seeking planning permission for a new development. 

The site has 3 trees which are TPO and consequently they all have large RPAs. 

The RPAs fall into some of the areas wher

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Pleached hedge spacing and supply

Morning all,Whilst on one of my bigger maintenance jobs, I opened my big mouth and said 'A pleached beech hedge would look really good there', so now I'm stuck with planting it.I know a common planting is hornbeam rather than beach for speed of growt

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Box Tree Caterpillar damage

Has anyone had an experience with Box Tree Caterpillar infestation?

My box balls/box hedge is being decimated by caterpillars as I type. 

I have no idea where they have come from but the damage has occurred very swiftly. It's rather disappointing as

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Please help me ID this disease/pest

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Diseased Acer ID please ?

Hi,  a friend of mine has got a three year old Acer that's died, don't know much about the background and history of the tree unfortunately.  Can anyone have a stab at what's caused this please ?  I suspect Honey Fungus but confirmation or otherwise

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giant hogweed

found the first giant hogweed today . can not really miss it it is as high as the bungalow next to it . lucky for me it is not in a garden we look after but 2 doors away will have to keep a look out to make sure it does not spread

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crown imperial

my crown imperials have not flowered this year, they have grown ok but no flower buds on them. no sign of insect damage they have been in about 8 years and flowered ok up to this year

any ideas ?

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Weeding advice

I did a long all-day job yesterday clearing a massive border that's populated with mature shrubs, of well grown weeds between the plants. Took me ages with a draw hoe, spade, rake and my trusty Mantis tiller. The thought occurred that there must be a

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Is there any point in planting new trees?

Successive governments have made popular pledges to plant large numbers of new trees. But do these trees ever actually get planted and, where they do, does it ever achieve anything useful?

Woodlands have a vital role to play in our landscape. As well

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Pleached Beech Hedge

Evening all, Have just spent the evening casually chatting to a client about how we're going to improve their garden long-term. Their property is called The Beeches and they're after a privacy screen (eventually) so I suggested a pleached beech hedge

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Nasty rash like hives?

Does anyone know what the common plants are for giving nasty rashes? I was at one of my customers places today and I was clearing out a whorethorn tree you know the one!! With the evil spikes that you spend weeks trying to pull out of your skin if yo

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