Gardening questions
Jun. 4th, 2007 10:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Advice gratefully received!
Four weeks ago, out of despair I was going to buy another pear tree to
pollinate Quincey, as this is the first year s/he's flowered. Transpires there was no need; Quincey's blossoms have been succeeded by a teeny batch of pearlets. There aren't many and if anyone knows how to encourage more I would love to hear.
Also, there is the problem of Quncey's lower branches. I didn't do the whole proper pear thing, ie, planting against a south facing wall, and Quincey's branches now dangle among the daisies, being eaten to bits. I'm worried that insects might use the branches as a highway to fruity heaven. Is that likely? Should I just chop those branches? I hate to do it while the little tree is fruiting, in case I traumatise it, but I want those pears...
And finally; my dear
larians and his mate Bruce Sans LJ are quite right in gauging the garden's need for a flame thrower. Ragwort is taking over; each year I pull these things up by hand, each year they return.
larians and Bruce are talking about nuking the whole thing with weedkiller and starting from scratch; I am worried that even leaving Quincey untouched, the weedkiller might affect the soil and therefore the pears, and of course, I'm worried about damaging the froggy paradise this place becomes later in the year. Anyone know a really good weedkiller that won't do hideous ecological damage?
Four weeks ago, out of despair I was going to buy another pear tree to
pollinate Quincey, as this is the first year s/he's flowered. Transpires there was no need; Quincey's blossoms have been succeeded by a teeny batch of pearlets. There aren't many and if anyone knows how to encourage more I would love to hear.
Also, there is the problem of Quncey's lower branches. I didn't do the whole proper pear thing, ie, planting against a south facing wall, and Quincey's branches now dangle among the daisies, being eaten to bits. I'm worried that insects might use the branches as a highway to fruity heaven. Is that likely? Should I just chop those branches? I hate to do it while the little tree is fruiting, in case I traumatise it, but I want those pears...
And finally; my dear
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no subject
Date: 2007-06-04 10:43 am (UTC)Also the problem may stem from a neighbouring property so unless thats treated to wont get rid of the infestation.
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Date: 2007-06-04 11:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-04 12:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-04 08:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-04 10:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 06:42 am (UTC)Though
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Date: 2007-06-04 11:42 am (UTC)Agent Orange?
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Date: 2007-06-04 12:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-04 05:11 pm (UTC)Nope, that comes later, once I`ve bothered packing, travelled, arrived, and necked the first pint in the bar.
From the horses mouth
Date: 2007-06-04 12:15 pm (UTC)Quince's also take slightly longer to come into fruit than pears.
On weedkillers he advises find a knowledgable person at a local garden centre and then make whatever thy advise up to double strength because garden centres are supposed to advise half-strength.(whatever that means)
Re: From the horses mouth
Date: 2007-06-04 01:56 pm (UTC)It's not ecofriendly stuff you wanted but by appling it with a paint brush you have more control where it goes.
Oh and wear rubber gloves when doing it - as it not nice stuff.
Re: From the horses mouth
Date: 2007-06-04 10:18 pm (UTC)Re: From the horses mouth
Date: 2007-06-04 10:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-04 12:18 pm (UTC)Googling them generally brings up their website which lists all their products.
I've been impressed with the slug/snail killers - I have corpses whilst being organic!
Other than that I know nothing about growing pears/quinces.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-04 10:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-04 10:24 pm (UTC)You think correctly! He gardens for a livin'.
Having looked more at the Growing Success website now, they may not have subtle weedkillers after all. Sorry.
They're worth knowing about though, just in case you have another blight that needs dealing with!
no subject
Date: 2007-06-04 08:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-04 10:31 pm (UTC)http://www.growingsuccess.org.uk/range.asp?cat=Slug_Control
The slimey things eat the pellets and then kinda shrivel and dry up.
Re Ants, apparently yes they have stuff made from 'natural ingredients' and several options: see under the 'Ant and Bug Killer' section from the menu on the left.
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Date: 2007-06-04 08:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-04 10:21 pm (UTC)