UK tenants should have ‘right to garden’, leading horticulturist says
rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
14 days ago
last modified: 14 days ago
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UK scepticism about 5:1:1
Comments (19)Hello everyone!! I think everyone should remember that it does take time to invest in what is best for our plants and trees. Your time and patience in finding the items can be a challenge at times, but Al also has given others that can't find all of the ingredients other ways of making a better mix with what items we can find.. I do understand the frustration. Believe me. When I first started, I couldn't find the fines. But they were available after I just looked online and listened to people and searched. They are available, I just wasn't looking in the right place... At Home Depot they had soil conditioner which was perfect for the 5-1-1. Once you use the Gritty and or the 5-1-1. You will understand why it works.. I have been using this method for many years now and I would like the OP to give it a try. It's worth the effort and if you listened to the ( naysayers) all of the time, we would all still be using bagged soil because its easy and the manufacturers just want us to buy , discard and use again. It's all about money.. Making it yourself once you find the items, it really is easy to make my mix the way I like for all of my plants. Grace is right.. It is a learning experience and if you are willing to understand and give it a try, I think you will be happy. But it is up to everyone to make up their minds if they want to understand the science and see the benefits that your plants will give back. I think Al has been able to help so many people .. Others that can't find certain items so they can adjust or substitute items to make a better mix. If anything.. He has always been willing to go out of his way to help people find items. So.. Thank you Al. You have tried to help and it will take some action on our parts to find what we need. I just want the OP to just think for yourself ... Don't let others sway you just because.. Try it.. You can always go back to what ever you were using. I bet you will see improvement over time and never turn back!! ;-) No one was ever called lazy and it is in the best interest to just try and do your best. If you can't find what you need, adjust and you can make a mix using a peat based mix, perlite and bark or fir bark. It's just about making your soil or mix lighter so there is more aeration for the health of your roots. It is about the changing of heavy peat based mix that our roots suffer in. Lets give credit to the OP for posting.. I'm glad you did. Sometimes it takes only one to start the new path. " way to go..." You all take care!!! Laura...See MoreWhat have been some of your worst gardening mistakes?
Comments (65)My worst gardening mistake was when I was just starting, and had inherited an old, mature garden. The mistake was to get a lot of books on roses, and read them, and believe what they said! It took me a while to learn that only LOCAL advice re the size, habit, health, & pruning needs of roses was of any use (most of the books I got were written in England or the US East Coast - both equally useless as to facts about how roses grow here, but gorgeous pictures, etc.). The books were so authoritative, and stated things as facts, period, without any qualifications (except for Graham Thomas, bless him, who always said that this is what this rose does where I garden, but I have heard that it behaves differently elsewhere...) that I was intimidated into believing them. Only after years of having some of my ancient roses identified by wonderful people on this forum did I realize that they were not freaks of nature, but behaved exactly as you would expect such a rose to behave in our climate... Knowing how ignorant I was, and wanting so much to take good care of the garden I had inherited, I also unfortunately took the advice of the ARS and others about the need for spraying constantly, but only for one or two years - it was just too silly, and too much work, and I gave up. Then all of the bees and butterflies, etc came back, and the roses were still happy. So, the main lesson turned out to be to trust your own eyes about what is going on in your garden, what grows & doesn't grow, and what you like & don't like, and don't take any advice unless it is LOCAL! Jackie...See MoreMay we see pictures of your garden, or gardens you have designed
Comments (21)Are we done with the gang mentality? I guess I should have put a smiley face after my comment to botann :) ... Admittedly, a mischievous sense of humour did not translate in that post. My point being that I am aware bamboo doesn't grow "in" water and was struck (again) by how some regular members assume most non-regular posters are novice beginners. But since some took the time to formally announce that I will henceforth be ignored, let me ask the following. Why is anyone who is perceived as challenging or disrupting the "regulars" (even on only one or two occasions) immediately labelled a troll or accused of being "fueled by totally opposite considerations"? I have made dozens of posts on this and other forums because of a genuine shared interest I have in those subjects matters. I have on occasion agreed with the oft-expressed opinion that there is a sense of exclusivity among certain regular posters on this forum, and yet this single post is cited as evidence by George and Ink of an enemy in your midst. Actually my goal is more on promoting Japanese Gardens, and encouraging that interest in others - which is why I suggested Flickr to "adopted". It is inspirational to look through the photos on that site. My original post was nothing but complimentary, supportive and encouraging. That said, I do happen to believe that all should be welcome, that this is not the place for a private social club and I believe I am entitled to that opinion. Isn't this is a public space were people of all stages of interest share information? I don't think it's solely a place were a handful of regular posters should have private debates intended for their own amusement. That leads to the gang mentality witnessed above, whereupon internet cliques form and occasional posters, lurkers or "drop-ins" are made to feel like unwelcome outsiders. Just because someone is not a member of the frequent posters club, why under-estimate their knowledge level? Maybe if all queries are answered as though the posters experience is similar to yours, and not 'talked down' to or ignored, it will be a more enjoyable and educational forum for all. So if some of you have hopes of driving me (like others before me) off the forum, so be it. The fact that you attempt to do this, only speaks to the kind of power/control issues at work here (I disagreed with Inkognito on one single occasion, and he now vocally labels me a troublemaker - fragile ego indeed). No single group owns this forum. Anyone is entitled to visit and occasionally I will post - usually in a supportive and encouraging role. I have learned from some of you, and will continue to do so. However, I promise not to ask any more questions of botann for fear I will get another introductory lesson on the rudimentary basics of bamboo. But as I said, it was a very nice pic. He (or she) has got a lovely garden....See MoreHow to become a a horticulturist with a BFA in fashion design??
Comments (19)I tend to agree with laag on this one......this is a profession that draws a wide range of individuals and with very few exceptions, most of the folks I know that are currently earning their living in horticulture pursued their undergraduate studies in another field or entered it as a second career. So yes, it is certainly possible to make a transition from fashion design to horticulture or landscape design. But not necessarily easy :-) You have an immediate advantage over Joe Blow having had training and graduated in a design field - the basis is there. However, like any other profession, there are technical aspects of the business that must be learned, either through OTJ training or by additional formal education. You've already received some good suggestions on how to obtain this needed feature. There is much to be said for entering a profession that is more in the way of a passion rather than *just* a career. It is very satisfying to go to work each day and do something you love and to be able to create things that others, as well as yourself, find meaningful and appealling, but in accepting that philosophy one often gives up some other quality and in this case it is income that tends to be on the losing end of things. If you can accept that your rewards in entering this profession are likely to be something other than monetary and it still appeals, then by all means, go ahead and make the switch. There are many aspects to the field of horticulture besides just design and some of them are more lucrative than others. But those on the upper end of the income level will require specific training. You can decide how much more time and money you wish to invest before making the leap, but it is certainly advised to investigate exactly what you want to do and where and then talk to those in the field there before making a final decision. None of these comments are made to discourage you, only to enlighten you that success in this profession is not nearly so easy as it may appear on the surface and as with any other profession, takes dedication, hard work and dealing with the competition that exists in any creative endeavor. Good luck!...See Moreprairiemoon2 z6b MA
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