my jungle garden

Sive · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject:

You are amazing Sue, I'm in awe of all your creativity. Very interested in your hedge suggestion as we are windswept here.
Does the Leycesteria have any wildlife value...does it attract bees etc?
Also fascinated by the fact that you have both a polytunnel and a greenhouse.
Can you explain why? We are trying to decide which to put into our new and very windy garden. We will, over time, be more sheltered as our hedging and trees grow.
I'd love your advice.

BlackBird · Ash Tree Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 208

Prudence · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject:

Sive - many thanks for your comments Smile

Blackbird is quite right. The birds love the berries and the hedge is buzzing with bees.

I was given the greenhouse initially but decided I needed more 'indoor' space. Both have become extremely useful. The greenhouse, being glass, stays a degree or two warmer than the polytunnel in winter. I use the greenhouse as a cactus house. Keeping cactus in the greenhouse, where they get the winter chill, enables them to flower in the spring. Cactus indoors rarely flower.

I use the polytunnel for overwintering anything really tender that might be quite tall. Seeds are also sowed in there too. There is also a grapevine in there which produces grapes. My neighbour has the same vine outside which never produces fruit. So that added bit of protection counts for a lot.

Sive, if you do get a polytunnel, you will find there will be serious condensation inside - a bit like standing under a shower Smile

I've got round this problem by putting some medium gauge clear plastic over the frame inside. Basically thread it through the hoops between the frame and the other poly layer. No more drips. I also put heavy duty weed suppressant on the floor which makes it easy to keep clean. I hope the above is some help to you. Feel free to ask more questions.

Blackbird - you are half right Very Happy

The dogs bum maybe the greyhound half, the other being border collie = lurcher. Only had her 6 months, and she was quick to steal plants in pots and chew them - such a thief! Certain areas are temporarily fenced off until she reaches pension age.

All the best.

Sue

James Kilkelly, was GPI. · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:39 pm Post subject:

sal · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:18 pm Post subject:

i`m impressed,how far apart are they planted? and would any garden centre have them do you think?i need to plant a hedge to hide the 3 ft high area put in by my builder for our bio-unit,it was the first he`d done as bio-units had just been inforced in our area,previously planning dept stated septic tanks,but those lovely plants look like the very thing to hide the mound, Very Happy

sal · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject:

where did you get it?have tried googling it,but cant find suppli
er

James Kilkelly, was GPI. · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject:

I got mine in a small local garden centre.
If a garden centre does not have any when you call they can be ordered in quite easily for you.
Where are you based?

sal · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject:

i`m in kerry,there are 2 local to me that i know of,will try there,best phone instead of googling?old habit Laughing

Prudence · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject:

Hi Sal - the hedge is planted roughly 3ft apart.

Sue

Sive · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 6:26 am Post subject:

hi sue, really interested in this hedge.... never seen it before...it looks very vigorous..... what would its final height be, if you didn't trim it?
i'm just concerned that it might be a lot of work keeping it at a particular height....say 6 feet. what do you think?

Prudence · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:18 pm Post subject:

Hi Sive

My husband does the all the hedge cutting and just lops the top off it now and again. I don't think it's too bad to keep in check.

Alternatively, there is a golden version called 'Golden Lanterns' which is not quite so vigorous.

Leycesteria 'Golden Lanterns'

and a closeup

This is around 6ft after 1.5 years and is in partial shade, so may grow faster in full sun.

All the best.

Sue

sal · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject:

went to the local garden centre after phoning round,only one with it in stock,they had only 2 so i bought them as they looked so healthy,i will use them in my front garden,i ended up buying viburnum tinus gwenlyn as the guy in the g/centre advised them for my ground in the back garden,they are also a good size,and a pampas grass 6 ft high for just 5 euro!and they had another 20% off sale,so now i`m broke as i came back with 28 plants,plus i`m going back for fruit tree`s now i have the gardening bug, i think i still will get more pheasent berry later if i find them to put behind the viburnun as viburnun grows to only 4ft, Rolling Eyes

verge · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:27 pm Post subject:

elphin · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:19 pm Post subject:

Gosh, that looks wonderful. You've given me loads of ideas for my planned tunnel and raised beds etc.
well done

Green Joe 90 · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject:

To go back to the original topic.

Prudence your jungle garden is excellent. I've started a small jungle theme in part of my garden. I've only a fastia japonica, a dwarf palm and a couple of others. Next up is a Dicksonia antarctica and Canna. I'm inspired by your garden so I'll be back to you for some names.

Keep up the good work.