Garden whinge

[Ladygardener]

Feb 14, 2015 11:47:34 GMT Jilly said:

So hang on in there ladies, things can only get better, I wouldn't take any instructions from your neighbour about what to grow in your own garden Ladygardener, the problem with people like her (& I've known a few in my time) is that the more you try to placate them, the more demanding they get. Just smile & nod, then do exactly what you like 

I think along those lines as well Jilly. I don't want her to think that because I've moved the Clem this time, still by the wall but further up, I'm going to do my planting to suit her. She does'nt really like any of my tall flowers/Dahlia/Cosmos, too rowdy for her.

It sounds like you've made a good neighbour in Jo, hope she and the rest of her family stay safe. Neither of my 2 neighbours like to garden and I know they think I'm a crazy woman in the garden who feeds the birds.

[Chuckles]

As has already been said I'd try to keep the peace if you possibly can even if it means ignoring the silly old bat then again if you really stood up to her in a firm manner maybe she would get the message, its finding the right words though at the time isn't it. I certainly wouldn't take any instructions about what to grow in your own garden, if its not seriosly blocking her view or hanging over its not a problem. Its a difficult situation when neighbours are like this and it can put you off going out in your own garden. Like Jilly we've had our share of them over the years and I used to avoid going out back on occasions but after a while thought better of it and just ignored them or if we made eye contact I'd just acknowlegde them and carry on walking. Good luck LG

[Missredhead]

One of my neighbours is a bit of a know it all and tells me what and where I should plant things....I tend to ignore her or if I have a plant and she tells me where I should plant it I deliberately plant it somewhere else...ATM she is more concerned about my other neighbours fence that got blown down..keeps asking me what he is going to do about it..::Doh:
Just be polite LG and ignore her.....

[Ladygardener]

Ladygardener,Chuckles,Missredhead, Rosefriend Jilly Tig Geranium Thanks a lot for your support everyone. I sit outside a lot during all the seasons so long as the rain is'nt battering on me and she comes outside for a sneaky smoke and a chat as well. (She's 70 ) and thinks her hubby does'nt know she smokes..... So yesterday we were both outside as normal and she started chatting. I just chatted back again, nobody mentioned the oblisk.

[Missredhead]

Maybe she is having second thought about it LG.....

[Geranium]

Jilly, I was told not to plant anything tall down the joint boundary. I really felt so aggrieved that they had erected an ugly stock fence without the courtesy of discussing it with us, that I might plant a row of Leylandii there! (I didn't...I planted it up carefully, because the Leylandii would have cut off my light. )

Ladygardener, keep chatting...but don't mention the obelisk!  Don't even look at it.

[Ladygardener]

Feb 15, 2015 13:50:49 GMT Missredhead said:

Maybe she is having second thought about it LG.....

She's not but it's behind us now, I've no doubt she'll enjoy the scent of the sweetpea this summer when they're in bloom.

[Ron]

Eventually, weathering and chemical processes breaks down soil until it is composed of smaller and smaller particles. Clay soil is composed of tiny flakes which stick together. It is full of nutrients though which means that if you can increase the grain size, you will have good soil. The only thing that will do that is coarse grit. Dig in as much as you can. If you have established plants, it's difficult, but if they're dying you might as well go for it anyway. Trouble is you might need a lorry load.

Oops, joined this discussion at the wrong end! It was a post about clay from Jennywren from 2008! Might as well leave it in though.

[fozzie]

If I could gave found this I would have!

[fozzie]

I had to reply to force the thread to appear on my list of threads under Gardening Chat. Its all Greek to me!

[Ladygardener]

Well after all that, my 70 odd neighbour has been fine and never mentioned the oblisk. She did make a comment when the 2m arch went up 'tho but it was after it had been there a while and had a Clematis growing up it. On the other hand, my neighbour on the other side has not spoken to me since I put up my new plastic gh back in late winter/early springtime. She spoke to me after I'd put it up to say it was blocking her light in her hallway and she could'nt come out of her house and look up the street as it was in her way. I gently said I'm sorry she felt like that but it was for staying as there is'nt anywhere else in the garden that I can put it. I make a point of saying hello to her and she mumbles a reply with her head down. She is the neighbour who had her grass removed and replaced with artificial grass a month or two ago.

[Geranium]

I am absolutely fed up with the lawn being ploughed up by bloomin' badgers. They seem to get in despite the electric fence. GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! 

[Barbara]

I'm being driven mad by 2 grey squirrels, there isn't a pot untouched by them, this morning I found my aliums on top of the pot they were planted in, they are somehow getting the chicken wire off now, that used to beat them but not any more.

[Ladygardener]

Oh dear Squirrels and Badgers, not good for the garden Geranium, Barbara,.

[Missredhead]

Oct 29, 2016 8:48:29 GMT Barbara said:

I'm being driven mad by 2 grey squirrels, there isn't a pot untouched by them, this morning I found my aliums on top of the pot they were planted in, they are somehow getting the chicken wire off now, that used to beat them but not any more.

At least you only have 2 Barbara...there are loads here from those bl***y trees....
mine have been dug up too..last year I used old net curtains secured with string until the bulbs started to show then I took it off....need to get some more sorted as I chucked last years ones as they were manky when I took them off...

[Barbara]

I went to the lotty yesterday and got a cabbage and some parsnips for dinner, unfortunately I was someones dinner too, got a bite on my knee for my trouble.

[Geranium]

There does not seem to be an answer to our badger problem. We have electric fences but I think they are coming under next door's hedge and on into our garden. The lawn is dreadfully ploughed up...

[Tig]

Van Meuwen have sent the rose I ordered, or rather they have sent a rose, but not the one I ordered! Was expecting Blue Eyes and got Eyes for You! I have emailed to moan, there would be a massive colour clash if I planted it where I'd intended.

[Ladygardener]

Oh dear Tig, hope they get things sorted for you.

[Ron]

I've come to the conclusion that it isn't worth ordering bulbs, corms and suchlike early on the internet. Having waited 5 weeks to be told the dahlias I wanted were not available from P de Jager, I ordered the same from Gardens4You and they have delivered within a week.

[Jilly]

I also find Ron, that if you're prepared to keep your nerve, all of these companies have plenty of stock left at the end of the season, so you can get great reductions, I always keep an eye on Sarah Ravens website, as they take loads of the Dahlia tubers & cut flower seedlings.

[Ron]

Mar 15, 2017 9:27:48 GMT Jilly said:

I also find Ron , that if you're prepared to keep your nerve, all of these companies have plenty of stock left at the end of the season, so you can get great reductions, I always keep an eye on Sarah Ravens website, as they take loads of the Dahlia tubers & cut flower seedlings.

That's a good tip, Jilly, one I will bear in mind.

[Ladygardener]

Mar 14, 2017 11:37:10 GMT Tig said:

Van Meuwen have sent the rose I ordered, or rather they have sent a rose, but not the one I ordered! Was expecting Blue Eyes and got Eyes for You! I have emailed to moan, there would be a massive colour clash if I planted it where I'd intended.

Have you heard back from them Tig?

Ron, it's a right pain when the companies say they don't have something in stock. We've all been caught out with that one sometime or another. What Jilly says is right, it's a good tip and one I've made use of.

[Tig]

I've got a 'customer reference' number for my email, but no further response LG. Of course it is T & M / Van Meuwen .... it could be a long wait with their history.

[Ron]

Tig, Ladygardener, I think the bigger a company gets the more problems you have with them. Rose Cottage is another I'm fed up with. They have loads of orders but not enough staff. The last of the dahlias I ordered aren't going to be sent until the last week in March. The ones I had from J Parkers have been in pots in the GH since the end of February.

[Jilly]

Strangely enough Tig, I've got a customer satisfaction survey from T&M sitting in my inbox , probably because the only thing that I've ordered from them in years is a few packets of seeds last month.


Ron, I think if things are cheap they're cheap for a reason, so what I do, is if I really want something specific is use Sarah Raven or Hayloft, (or just visit the GC)  if I just spot something going cheap & want to take a chance I use one of the cheaper companies. I don't think I've had any problems with J.Parker though and they have loads of offers.

What does annoy me about T&M though is that they're no longer cheap for plants, and plants is what they so often get wrong.

[Ron]

Mar 17, 2017 10:15:55 GMT Jilly said:

Strangely enough Tig , I've got a customer satisfaction survey from T&M sitting in my inbox , probably because the only thing that I've ordered from them in years is a few packets of seeds last month.


Ron , I think if things are cheap they're cheap for a reason, so what I do, is if I really want something specific is use Sarah Raven or Hayloft, (or just visit the GC)  if I just spot something going cheap & want to take a chance I use one of the cheaper companies. I don't think I've had any problems with J.Parker though and they have loads of offers.

What does annoy me about T&M though is that they're no longer cheap for plants, and plants is what they so often get wrong.

J Parkers are one of the best in my opinion, Jilly, they were giving 8 begonias away with orders. As I had 3 orders with them I got 24 free, very nice.

I don't use T & M at all any more, too many issues, though I've bought from Van Meuwen on occasion and had no problems so far. I've had stuff from SR as well, a bit dear but good, but I don't use Hayloft any more. You often have to buy a lot of plants to take advantage of their offers and I haven't room for them. I use Brookside Nursery for pots, (black plastic ones) 10 x 3 litre for £3.99 and they are £2.49 each in my local GC! £7.99 for 10 x 5 litre.

[Tig]

Had an email yesterday from VMs customer care people, the correct rose (blue eyes) will be sent out before the end of April 2017, I hope it isn't bareroot though, it is doubtful one would be viable by then!

[Ladygardener]

No it should be a container rose at that stage Tig.

[Tig]

We'll see what I get LG, a dead twig?