oldphil 331 Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 24 minutes ago, philmayfield said: I think the quickest and most efficient way would be to get your local tree surgeon to shift it with a stump grinder. I couldn't shift the stump of the dead Almond tree in the front lawn. Rushcliffe Environmental services charged £36. They sent three blokes, alorry and the biggest stump grinder I've ever seen. Barriers went up to protect next doors car. Twenty minutes later, a nice big hole for my new cherry tree and a ton of bedding. Lots of manure and topsoil gone in as well. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 Make a feature of it Margie. I too dislike destroying any plants/ trees etc. Several years ago, we had a large silver birch cut down, but I insisted that they leave the stump about 2 feet tall. I've since put a swan shaped basket on it, with bedding plants in it. Another birch we had cut down, was left as just a 2 inch high stump, and on that, I have put a very old terracotta pot with a fuscia in it. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oldphil 331 Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 4 minutes ago, MargieH said: Thanks so much for all the advice everyone...... but because of all the new growth, I really would feel like a murderer if I killed it now! Silly, I know but that's just me. It's not in the middle of the lawn anyway so it's not a big inconvenience to leave it in situ, and it can be made a feature of with some cowslips and primroses round it. I'll just keep trimming the shoots and see what happens. If it does get out of hand, I suppose I'll have to have a rethink.... ok, ignore my last reply! when they redid the pathways round Colwick park, a lot of the posts which they used to edge the roads started sprouting. You could try and grow mistletoe in the bark - worth its weight in gold come December! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,139 Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 Got a very old tree stump in the middle of my lovely lawn here at my new place,, Chap who did my lawns yesterday offered to take it out,,told him no thanks,,its obviously very old and it gives the garden character,, its grey,about two feet tall and eighteen inches wide,,birds settle on it,,it makes a good seat,,going to make it a feature with Roses around it,, Early and late light it looks as if a fox is on the garden,, very nice,, 3 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 Put bird feeders on it Ben, or just sprinkle seed on the top. It's so relaxing watching them feeding. I could sit and watch them all day if possible ! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,139 Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 47 minutes ago, MargieH said: Thanks so much for all the advice everyone...... but because of all the new growth, I really would feel like a murderer if I killed it now! I'm. The same Margie,,can't kill owt,,still got a scar trying to protect frogs from some big lads (i was about ten) who thought it funny to shoot them with Air guns,, 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJ360 6,721 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 I've been steadily potting on my Echinacea and Aquilegia seedlings I've left them inside the cold frame, but with the lid up. Just for tidiness really. The other night when out with my torch on 'slug patrol', I caught a little slug.. maybe 1" long, on one of the Echinacea. Next morning, I realised that it had taken the growing tips out of several seedlings. It won't be doing that any more.. We'll see in time if it has done irreparable damage. I planted three new Delphiniums a few weeks ago. One has grown on unhindered and is in full flower. The second had a flower spike neatly 'excised' by a slug.. as did a third. Slug pellets seem to have had no effect and there seem to be very few slugs about. After a week or so the second Delphinium managed to send up a couple of flower spikes which are now close to flowering. The third Delphinium looked healthy enough, but just wasn't producing any flower spkes. I looked at it closely every night for a couple of weeks but found nothing until...... last night after the Graham Nash concert, I went out with my torch and there, chomping away was a MAHOOSIVE SLUG. This thing was at least 5 inches long and bright orange. Suffice to say that it is no more.. Here's hoping my third Delphinim will now have mmore than leaves to show... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJ360 6,721 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 Does anyone else grow Hibiscus? Mrs Col bought a little Hibiscus years ago. I planted it in a border and it took around ten-fifteen years to become a large and wide shrub... about 6 feet plus high and wide. It was only after last year's very hot summer.., that it finally flowered. All very nice but IMHO hardly worth the space and effort it takes up. The main problem is that it constantly 'falls over'. Every branch droops and wants to be on the ground. I've been online and it seems this is a feature of these things. Given the choice I'd just do away with it.. but if anyone has any better ideas? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,599 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 Col, all those images in my head of huge slugs is putting me off my breakfast..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 Nowt wrong with Slugs Margie, I quite like 'em. Especially griddled with a little garlic butter or even battered and deep fried ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 They're only escargot without the shell. The garlic butter disguises the taste anyway. They are a valuable source of protein and very chewy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,599 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 BK and Phil.... I prefer my breakfast cereal thankyou! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall simmers his in tomato sauce. Look for yourself! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 I have subsequently discovered that eating slugs can be fatal due to their diet whereas snails eat mainly veg and are safe. I don’t suppose Fernley-Whittingstall will be missed that much. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,599 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 I've just watched (part of) the video of HFW cooking slugs and I feel quite sick. Can we change the subject to flowers or something... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJ360 6,721 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 It seems to me that it is Fearnley-Whittingstall who has changed the subject. He's gone from a full on carnivore, to some sort of healthy eating environmentalist tree hugger. Whether he's had a genuine 'Damascene' conversion, or just has an eye to his ratings.. is another matter.. Cynical?.. Moi?... Anyway, I'm not having breakfast.. it's too late. May have a bacon butty for lunch though.. :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 I think Whittingstall has the makings of a first rate pillock . Television pays out obscene money and he’s got to keep in front of the cameras to earn it. Anything to do with environment is the bandwagon to be on at the moment. If you can’t save it at least make money from it! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,871 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 Eating slugs, no wonder they call him Hugh Fearlesly- Eatsitall. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted July 18, 2019 Report Share Posted July 18, 2019 I used to enjoy the River Cottage series, but now it's all about saving the planet. What about the other 99.999% of the world having a go ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,090 Posted July 20, 2019 Report Share Posted July 20, 2019 We watched a 30 minute garden make-over programme last night. 3 presenters came on, and I'm looking at the girl, thinking her voice is familiar. I said to hubby, blimey, that's Charlie Dimmock. We haven't seen her for nigh on 15-20 years when Ground Force was on BBC-America. She of the bra-less teeshirt fame. She's twice the woman she was. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stavertongirl 1,719 Posted July 20, 2019 Report Share Posted July 20, 2019 Help needed. Why are the leaves on my acer going white at the tips and then brown and crinkly. It is Still producing new leaves. Am I over or under watering it or doesn’t it like too much direct sun? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 5,404 Posted July 20, 2019 Report Share Posted July 20, 2019 SG look up Acer leaf scorch... https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=591 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted July 20, 2019 Report Share Posted July 20, 2019 Kath, your mention of Charlie made me do a google to see if she stll refuses to wear support, jeeze she's got fat!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted July 20, 2019 Report Share Posted July 20, 2019 Kath, I agree with you and Ayup. She looks a proper scruff nowadays. I know we're all getting older but oh dear ! Surprised she's even let on television, she's not doing herself any favours. Wouldn't be so bad if she washed her hair and brushed it occasionally. Can't stand to watch the programme now. She's not the working mans crumpet any more ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 20, 2019 Report Share Posted July 20, 2019 She does look a bit ‘Bulwell Wetherspoons’. Not very televisual. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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