gardening, not happy

[timwilky]

Just gone into the garden. Lupins don't look happy.

Agghhh, greenfly infestation of some type. must be a couple of million of the buggers having a right good meal. Well sprayed them but I think it too late and have lost about 20 lupins.

Thats it I am dead again when the daughter come as she planted them. It is my fault, I should have spotted it sooner.

I am not a gardener, but why when you spend money to get the place looking nice do pests that serve no purpose decide to kill my plants? What do I need to do in future to prevent this happening again.

[dizzyblonde]

Washing up liquid water is supposed to help, so I've heard when it comes to greenfly.

Just to annoy you, was watering my mothers garden yesterday and hers are BEAUTIFUL :)

Mind you, I'm for the high jump when shes back off holiday, I forgot to remind my brother to water the house plants......they now resemble dried herbs in pots!!

[Joe Marcon]

My dad did abit off gardening today with big digger and found an old well. Get a pic up soon

[DJFridge]

My dad did abit off gardening today with big digger and found an old well. Get a pic up soon

That could only happen to you guys!!

[Sir Trev]

Tim - you need to encourage things in that eat the little blighters. Set up a bird table or hanging feeders near by (not right on top or they will get trampled!). Ladybirds and lacewings are also great for this - you can buy (or easily make) some hibernation boxes for them so you have some close by.

Insecticides are something I try to avoid but sometimes you have no choice. I cannot grow brassicas of any type as one of my neighbours hedges is full of beasties that eat them to the ground within a night even though I tried spraying them...

[Spank86]

Insecticides kill the greenfly quick enough, and the ladybirds that normally keep them in check, so then you need more insecticides... best used sparingly. diluted washing up liquid is a good alternative if you catch the infestation soon enough.

[dizzyblonde]

.....and washing up liquid in water is as cheap as chips, and you buy it regular enough. AFAIK it don't kill off the ladybugs, just washes away them pesky green ones ;)

I use it on my roses, so it can't be that bad for Lupins. Just make sure you don't tip a bucket at a time, as they might snap!

[Spank86]

Sorry, should have clarified, the insecticides that kill off ladybirds are the chemical ones not stuff like washing up liquid which basically just gunks up the bugs (like jam and wasps really but without the attractant so you gotta spray it at em).

Never heard of it harming a plant yet although it might not be best to be overly liberal with any of the more delicate hairy leafed plants.

[Messie]

Washing up liquid doesn't really work. What you need is good old soap, disolved in water and sprayed on. And not the silly smelly lush type either - just proper SOAP. Works wonders and only kills what it touches, so hopefully the good insects, like ladybirds, will be ok

[dizzyblonde]

Do they still do this stuff?.....vile and horrid(far from mild green), should do the trick with regards to Messies post!

http://www.lifebuoy.co.uk/images/fairy-household_soap.jpg

[punyXpress]

Thought tactcom7 was building you a Rookery, Tim, but must have read it wrong!
You'd love them noisy effers first thing every morning. ;)
Oh, & they're mucky burgers too.

[davepreston]

ha ha tim gemma here none in my garden, but mines planted with wild flowers in places which attract all kinds of creepy crawlies ,plus its mainly green leaves and herbs, smells great though

[Mrs DJ Fridge]

I am not really allowed to do the gardening, I dig everything up calling them weeds, and DJ will not let me use the lawnmower any more because he says I cut the grass too short. Grass can never be too short, the shorter you cut it the longer between cuts surely. The lawnmower does keep stopping when I use it though, he says that is when the blades munch up the soil, I think he is just too picky.

[SamKassner]

This is so true ;) I always find it amusing that people who claim to love animals would squash a bug at the drop of a hat... I guess they love CUTE animals. Aha. Good distinction :)

[widepants]

This is so true ;) I always find it amusing that people who claim to love animals would squash a bug at the drop of a hat... I guess they love CUTE animals. Aha. Good distinction :)
and they only eat "ugly" food(animals)

[Spank86]

DJ will not let me use the lawnmower any more because he says I cut the grass too short. Grass can never be too short, the shorter you cut it the longer between cuts surely. The lawnmower does keep stopping when I use it though, he says that is when the blades munch up the soil, I think he is just too picky.

You should never take off more than a third of the grasses length in any one cut.

[timwilky]

My brother (http://www.bespokelawncare.co.uk (http://www.bespokelawncare.co.uk)) keeps bollocking me and tells me they are lawns not bowling greens. He treats my lawns but the lazy git will not cut them. So I minimise cutting by a number 1 all over.

[Spank86]

If you're going to cut it infrequently you're still better off cutting to 2 inches instead of 1, it'll damage the grass less.

[Sir Trev]

If you're going to cut it infrequently you're still better off cutting to 2 inches instead of 1, it'll damage the grass less.

And now we're heading into the traditionally hotter* part of the year raise the blades a notch to reduce the scorching your grass will get if not partially shaded. Those who go for the "Wilky Number 1 Cut" on their lawn in June/July/August will find it goes brown quicker than if you go for a number 2 or 3.


*do NOT rely in this as a forecast!!

[timwilky]

Brown! That is why we have sprinklers and hose pipes

[Spank86]

Different sort of brown, it scorch from the sun not browning and wliting drying out (although that tends to happen too).

[Mrs DJ Fridge]

All too technical for me, I will leave it to DJ, that way he will not be complaining at me.

[Sir Trev]

That is why we have sprinklers and hose pipes


Both dirty words down here right now Mr Wilky! It took me nearly two hours last night to water the veg garden and the newly planted shrubs by watering can. All four of my water butts are now empty and I'm back and forth to the outside tap now until we get rain again (forecast for the weekend - obviously).

[punyXpress]

Just Goggle " Rice Fields of Japan ", Tim.
What you need is a project! ;)

[dizzyblonde]

Both dirty words down here right now Mr Wilky! It took me nearly two hours last night to water the veg garden and the newly planted shrubs by watering can. All four of my water butts are now empty and I'm back and forth to the outside tap now until we get rain again (forecast for the weekend - obviously).

We've more than ample water here, if you'd like to come get some :|

I've been replacing flags on and off for a while since we put in the new fence....which we kindly did for our neighbours at our expense:mad:

Rain has now stopped play and I've got a load of stinky rotty dry wood log borders in the back of the car ready for the tip, and I've just had to rip out the last lot in the pouring rain :( It can sit outside as I'm sure as hell not shoving that lot in my boot until the last minute!

I'm now wet, my shoes are muddy, the flags are muddy and I've got a half finished garden just waiting for the dog to trample in, and cats to crap in! Was kinda hoping to get it finished last night, but mothers duties got in the way :rolleyes: