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Replies

• 

  Hamish May 26, 2009 at 5:45pm

  don't guarantee the plants! - membrane terram or similar as deep as you can and get in the sulphur chips. I would also recommend putting in a mini soakaway at the bottom of each bed as an additional precaution.
• PRO

  Phil Voice May 26, 2009 at 8:06pm

  Hi Simon
  
  I would also insist that your client agrees that they would be responsible for dressing and feeding after the job has been signed over.
  
  I would suggest that a regular application of Sequestrene is applied too. Old tea leaves/bags and coffee grounds are good too.
  
  Just make sure your client understands the implications of allowing lime levels to increase.
  
  Hope that helps.
  
  Phil
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  Simon Knops May 26, 2009 at 8:29pm

  Hamish and Phil - thanks both for the replies. Have already pointed out my reservations regarding this, but then again if it doesn't work they can always use the beds for something else! Very much like the idea of using tea bags and coffee grounds though. Whilst I will share my thoughts with them on the matter, if they really want to give it a go .....
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  Andrew Fereday May 26, 2009 at 9:41pm

  Hi Simon,
  
  Perhaps you can suggest a couple of large planters / pots with the particular ericaceous plants your clients are looking to have in their garden? What are they trying to grow anyway? Realistically, whatever you're trying to grow will never work in a limestone border but a focal point planter might be easier to manage - you can always drench with seqestered iron (or proprietory ericaceous feed) every couple of months if you're just growing a camellia in a pot for example.
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  Simon Knops May 27, 2009 at 4:01pm

  Hi Peter
  
  Can understand your reply and thanks for taking the time to put pen to screen. I am pleased to say that I am not as obviously daft as it might first appear. ( at least not from the original question) Hot well drained site - herbs, grasses, flowers were my initial thoughts but needed to get some input from the client. They came back with the Azalea and Blueberry tree raised bed route (they already have them in pots) and in fairness did ask what we might be able to do, changing soil etc. Rather than dismissing the idea straight away well maybe a little research ....
  
  Before going back to them I wanted to gauge reaction and ideas from Landscape Juice which I must say have been really helpful and I agree about not going against prevailing conditions. However it has shown me what might be possible with some extra thought. It will also help me to go back and discuss their ideas with them in more detail - it's not a large area so if it fails then we can always go back to plan 'A'. Possibly pots in a raised bed with elements as suggested by Hamish, Phil and Colin. Of course I have reservations but provided they realise it's a bit of an experiment then all will be well. - Any suggestions for Azalea like plants which like lime??
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  Simon Knops May 27, 2009 at 4:05pm

  Thank Andrew and apologies for not acknowledging you in the my last post.
  Andrew Fereday said:

  Hi Simon,
  
  Perhaps you can suggest a couple of large planters / pots with the particular ericaceous plants your clients are looking to have in their garden? What are they trying to grow anyway? Realistically, whatever you're trying to grow will never work in a limestone border but a focal point planter might be easier to manage - you can always drench with seqestered iron (or proprietory ericaceous feed) every couple of months if you're just growing a camellia in a pot for example.
• 

  pete May 30, 2009 at 12:07am

  There are Rhododendrons that will manage in alkaline conditions - research - but have to say I agree with Peter - when I first looked at this I dismissed it. If your customer Simon, had already bought ericacious plants they must not know about such things, - tell them, as Andrew says, it'll never work, and put what they've bought in pots - pot on as they get larger - plant stuff instead that will thrive in these conditions, I'll bet thats what they'd really like. --------- Hot and dry, Cistus Corbariensis - http://www.plantpress.com/plant-encyclopedia/plantdbsearch.php?name... for one.
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  Simon Knops May 30, 2009 at 6:41am

  Peter - no probs at all. I asked the question and actually I thought your reply perfectly reasonable, not angry at all. It's good to get a range of thoughts on any topic, and gives me more ammunition with the client. Opinions seem to be ''not a very good idea how about trying this'' and it certainly helps with my own knowldge, which I will confess when it comes to plants is limited. It's great to get replies that are passionate and lets face I am sure it only comes from wanting to see a job done successfully and I am all for that.
  
  With Pete's suggestions I am now off to learn some new plants! Thank you all
  
  Peter Ward said:

  Hi Simon, i think i was having an angry young man moment sorry, looking at my post i was must have been pretty feverish! i came across as a bit harsh.
  
  anyway..last year i helped Nick henley welch on the Ilex plant database (its talked about on here somewhere, and its now totally free!) have a look on there for shrubs that dont mind alkaline conditions there's actually quite a lot.
  
  hope this helps
  peter
  Simon said:

  Hi Peter
  
  Can understand your reply and thanks for taking the time to put pen to screen. I am pleased to say that I am not as obviously daft as it might first appear. ( at least not from the original question) Hot well drained site - herbs, grasses, flowers were my initial thoughts but needed to get some input from the client. They came back with the Azalea and Blueberry tree raised bed route (they already have them in pots) and in fairness did ask what we might be able to do, changing soil etc. Rather than dismissing the idea straight away well maybe a little research ....
  
  Before going back to them I wanted to gauge reaction and ideas from Landscape Juice which I must say have been really helpful and I agree about not going against prevailing conditions. However it has shown me what might be possible with some extra thought. It will also help me to go back and discuss their ideas with them in more detail - it's not a large area so if it fails then we can always go back to plan 'A'. Possibly pots in a raised bed with elements as suggested by Hamish, Phil and Colin. Of course I have reservations but provided they realise it's a bit of an experiment then all will be well. - Any suggestions for Azalea like plants which like lime??