Recent content by dreddypuss

Hello, I have just had 2 planter walls built with Marshalls Argent walling and coping. Can anyone please advise as to what sort of liner I should put into the walls before gravel and soil? Thanks for any advice

I am about to erect a Pergola in my garden and would like any advice as to a good paint or stain to use to protect it from the weather. Many thanks

Many thanks for your advice

I thought it would look nice! - I want it in a different colour than the ceiling (white emulsion) and a slightly darker colour than the wallpaper (apricot) If you think gloss is wrong, please let me know - Thanks!

We have just had our lounge re-plastered and new coving put up. Please can anyone advise how I should prepare the coving before painting with gloss? would a thinned down paint be practical - in which case, what sort of paint and how thinned down - with water? Thanks in advance

You could also use a soapy spray - get an old bit of soap, rub it on a cheesegrater so you get 2/3" of soap, put the grated soap into one of those indoor house plant sprayers (Homebase, B&Q about 99p) and add very hot water to dissolve the soap. Wait until cooled, and then spray onto the leaves...

Most passifloras look pretty manky until they are cut back in late spring, much as in your pictures. Cut all the old/manky leaves off and any old, dead bits (usually very pale/cream in colour). Don't be afraid to end up with a load of bare stems with some very small growth on. It may be that the...

What compost/medium did you re-pot the acer in?

Ah! at least you have a clue to your culprit - sounds like either scale insects or whitefly - both are sap suckers that secrete a sticky substance called honeydew. Prune out all infected leaves and branches and spray the rest with Permethrin based insecticide or Malathion, this should do the...

No - Photinias should be putting on a lot of red, new growth at this time of year at the tips of the branches. They are prone to leaf spot, powdery mildew,aphid attack and root weevils - so check for any signs of these first. In general, though, they are hardy shrubs suitable for most soils and...

Before planting, you need to dig a wide rather than deep hole and incorporate some organic matter into the soil - either garden compost or well rotted manure and mix in well to the planting hole. A handful of either Bonemeal or Blood/Fish/Bone will help root formation. Make sure the "wall" of...

Many thanks for all your help

We are doing up our kitchen and are putting plasterboards onto wooden batons on a false ceiling. We need a plasterer to come and skim the ceiling but I need to know whether to cut out the holes for the lights (low voltage round spotlighty ones) first or to get the skimming done first? It...

Not too late - spring & autumn are the best times to lay. The preparation of the top of the soil is more important than the soil underneath. Get all the stones off that you can, and fill in any bumps or hollows that can cause problems when mowing. Firm soil well by tramping (treading with boots...

Oh, you do know how to enjoy yourself!!!!! By the sounds of things though you have a fairly good grip of the soil you have, the problems its causing and the ways to sove it - all sounds perfect sense to me. If you are desparate to grow chrysanths then definately the short term solution is to...