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Month: May 2010

Tips for Moving Shrubs such as Forsythia

Tips for Moving Shrubs such as Forsythia

Forsythia

How do you move shrubs that have out grow their current location? When should you move flowering shrubs?

Tips for Moving Shrubs
Move plants only when unavoidable by digging around the plant to create a big root ball of soil.
Heavy rootballs can be dragged into place on a piece of sacking or an opened out compost bag.
Dig a £10 hole for a £5 plant, loosen the bottom of the hole, mix in some bone meal, back fill, tamp down the soil and water in.
Replant at the same depth – look for the soil level on the trunk or lower branches.
If the shrub is really big and bulky, prune it back hard before moving. You may loose some blossom the following season but it should regrow.

When to Move Plants
Move flowering shrubs in early winter when the shrub is dormant.
Incase of fatality take and root cuttings before moving.
If moving house ask permission of the new owner or stipulate your intentions when selling your property.
If you must move the plant when it is growing, water well for several days before, prune off unnecessary lush growth and do not allow the roots to dry whilst moving.

After Care
Keep your shrub well watered and mulched until it settles down.
Do not stress the plant by striving for excessive blooms in year one
Revitalise the soil around the old hole for your next plant. Humus and nutrients will be needed.

Join the Hardy Plant Society

Join the Hardy Plant Society

peaonie

The Hardy Plant Society is a friendly members organisation that specialises in perennials, plants that keep growing for years, and hardy plants, that will survive our British weather.

The regular feature ‘Plant of the month’ for May is Paeonia mascula ssp. russii. However they also give information on growing easier Peonies like Lutea and Peonie Ludlowii

Membership Benefits
All members of the Hardy Plant Society receive The Hardy Plant journal twice a year and a newsletter three times a year which provides information on all of the Society’s events, activities, interests and group contacts. There are also seed distributions, shows, open gardens, plant sales and a photo library for loan.

Specialist Groups within the society include:
Half Hardy Valerie Livesey 01970 880564 [email protected]
Hardy Geranium Oliver Folkard 01328 851468 [email protected]
Peony Gail Harland 01449 760553 [email protected]
Pulmonaria Barry Street 01494 [email protected]
Ranunculaceae Gill Regan 01795 890556 [email protected]
Variegated Plant Brian Dockerill 01443 402999 [email protected]

Local Groups
The Hardy Plant Society has around 40 local groups in the UK and national members are invited to join the group nearest to them. The wide range of gardening activities including informative lectures from local and national gardening speakers, garden visits and plant sales together with educational and social events throughout the year creates an active and informative club atmosphere .

Link for membership application form

Growing Basil a Sweetherb

Growing Basil a Sweetherb

Fragrant and sweet tasting Basil is an easy to grow, popular herb. Aka Sweet Basil, with many other basil types including Sweet Genovese, Thai basil, Lemon basil and Mexican spice basil there is a good range to grow.

Sow From Seed
In May or June fill small pots with moist multi-purpose compost. I use 3″ plastic pots.
Sprinkle seeds thinly on the surface. About 10-12 seeds per pot.
Cover lightly with fine compost or vermiculite.
Keep on a warm windowsill and seedlings will appear in about 2 weeks.

Growing Onward
After 4-6 weeks the seedlings can be planted into individual pots.
Then leave on the windowsill or harden off for outdoor planting
Treat the Basil as an annual.

Outdoor Basil
Plant out in June or July in a sunny sheltered spot.
They make good fragrant container plants.
Feed with a general purpose liquid feed and water little and often.
Pinch out the growing tip to get a bushy plant.

Using Basil
Leave the stems on pick and come again plants taking a few leaves each time.
Grow several plants if you need large quantities for Pesto or other culinary uses.
The seeds can be used to flavour a drink.

Credits
Basil has medicinal and calming properties.
Photo by Marmot on flickr
Seed suppliers