Scoundrel's gardening thread

[Randy_Mann]

I'm not from the UK but I found this from the Royal Horticultural Society:

"When to sow a new lawn
Seed germinates most readily in early autumn and mid-spring. The soil is warm, there is plenty of moisture and the weather is neither too cold nor too hot. Germination should take between seven and 10 days and seedlings will become established before the first severe frosts in late autumn or before hot, dry summer weather arrives."

More good info here:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=424

[liquorice]

Sound advice. Before I decide to sow in the spring (in the UK too) I grab a ball of topsoil and squeeze it in my hand. If I can hold onto it without my hand going cold, it's time to sow. That usually means mid to late April round here up north. And it's too wet and sticky at the moment, anyway. Supposedly some people vary my method by pulling down their breeches and trying their bare behind on the soil, again if their bottom doesn't go numb from cold it's time to sow. Obviously these crude persons must have a more private garden then me.
Not sure about the RHS advice where it says about spring sowing means getting the grass established "before hot, dry summer weather arrives".We can but hope...

[Sir Honkers]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

If properly encouraged, one strawberry plant will become a large strawberry patch with a lot of crop after about three years.

Originally Posted by loosegoose

When you say 'if properly encouraged', can you elaborate a bit please?

I didn't have to encourage them at all, they did it all by themselves, taking over about a quarter of the vegie patch. Clever strawberries.

[Puhbear69]

I hate gardening ! That's the reason, why I don't having a garden at my house.

Now I have heard a report, introducing "Smart Gardening" in the radio.

First theme was the watering. There is a set about 1600 EUR each with 5 water nozzles, handled by an App at your smart phone. So one can guide the system where ever you are. Every kind of automatic modus is possible too, in the morning, in the evening and in between. One can guide it to splash in 360° TO every other angle. And one can guide it to the amount of water for - maybe - each plant. The rest of the day the nozzles disappear in the ground.

Next was a mowing robot. It mows the grass always around the clock, how often you want. Also at night, to bother the neighbour. It's also steered by an App. So one can in the holiday in Spain give the order to mow the grass.

That made me interested in at a garden. So you can be lying in the sun, watch from your beach chair the robot at work, having a long drink and some snacks in hand other.

With dreams of the pretty new word I felt asleep in the sun. But what was this: the mowing robot was circling aggressively around my beach chair while the watering starts pissing me wet to the skin.

That thing with the garden .... I think I will reflect about it once more.

[otokonomidori]

Originally Posted by exfarmer

I need some advice from the hexperts, Can I plant a new lawn from grass seed in the UK at the beginning of March or is it too early?

Late April works best in the West of Scotland - or early September.

[Sir Honkers]

Originally Posted by exfarmer

I need some advice from the hexperts, Can I plant a new lawn from grass seed in the UK at the beginning of March or is it too early?

Or you can just do what we did and pay someone to dig up the old ratty, weed-filled lawn and put in a new one. It cost just $1300.00 and now all I have to do is water and yell at the the grandkids to get of the #@&%ing lawn you !#@%ing *#%@s

[tamsmith]

I love lavender in the garden so I have several different plant / varieties. Most years most English lavender have several heads. This year all have one head but have grown much further from the root than normal.

Never come across that before. Have grown lavender for many years so I would like to think I know a bit about them.

Anyone any ideas?? Weather. This year not much rain but plenty sun?
I did water though.

[Welderman]

Does anybody know what them thistle like plants are..? I found one in my garden.. Thanks Guys..

[MemoryHunter]

Them there's Teasles.

Bees love them and birds eat the seeds. They are a biennial and the spent seed heads were used to 'card' wool in days of yore. Quite rare as most don't want them in their garden.

I think they look nice, a bit alien, but nice all the same.

[Mal Hombre]

Teasels..https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipsacus