Another wonderful video George, thank you. I particularly like the advice about not being a snob. I love tropical style gardens and I'm slowly trying to create one for myself. But I also love roses and bee-friendly plants, so I have a mix of all sorts amongst my palms and bamboo etc. It's all about what brings you joy, isn't it? 🌴

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Louise and I completely agree with you! You should definitely grow what gives you joy and makes the world a better place rather than just ticking off a list. I'm sure a lot of gardeners in genuinely tropical areas would be very jealous of your ability to grow both tropical style plants and cooler climate plants like roses successfully! All the best for your spring plans!

Great advice as always right down to the Warning ⚠️ as the header🤣🤣🤣

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Haha thanks, had to be done! I will definitely contradict my own advice in the very near future I'm sure!

Bamboos, Waggie and Co, Eucalyptus to start with, and then...a lot more! Sorry for the lazy and silly comment! Take care mon cher George!🌴☀

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Haha, your comments and ideas are always welcome Bernard! It'll definitely be nice to see a bit more of that sunshine very soon! All the best!

Thanks for this George - very timely for any newbies with head in hands! Loving the idea of annuals - reward without the pain! I'll give that a try, starting with ricinus. Happy gardening everyone x

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much, I hope it helps some gardens bounce back from the inevitable gaps following this winter. I think the annuals are a great shout, particularly if you've mainly grown established or specimen plants before. So many annuals are incredibly easy to grow from seed and definitely add another dimension to your enjoyment of the garden! All the best with your spring garden plans.

Thanks George some good advice

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Iris!

Canna & ginger are def a great bang for our exotic buck. In many area's they may however be left in the ground, especially on open soils i.e. sandy soils. Alternately, mulch heavy. Ive been pushing these for over a decade w/o issues in 8a garden...good luck!!

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

You’re completely right, even after this winter my cannas appear to be OK (I dug one up recently). With some gingers I generally keep them potted over winter as they seem to require a longer season and more heat than we can offer them in the ground but the cannas seem to reliably grow and size up every year 😃

The winter really hasn't changed my mind on what I plant. I always try and plant as many evergreens as possible for winter interest. Then move onto half hardy plants and finally annuals generally for the front of the border. I only cover musa basjoo and the treen ferns. But I also do not keep the treen ferns constantly wrapped. The only thing I lift are colocasia here in Cambridgeshire.

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

I'm definitely with you on those points. For me, the trickiest part of this winter has been that it's wiped out a lot of the evergreens that 'should' have been fine. Half hardy plants you ultimately take a chance on or commit to some kind of protection with, but it's definitely been a ruthless winter for a lot of younger plants in newer gardens.

Thanks George another good one . I find your videos very inclusive, it can be a very expensive hobby , it’s good to give people cheaper options as many of us are on a tight budget.I bought most of my palms as small plants .It takes time for them to mature but is a very rewarding option

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Mark! It definitely can be expensive and I think like everything, there is a balance to be found in terms of budget / free time and the look you're going for. We're lucky there's a lot of quick growing annuals, plus palms like Trachycarpus grow so well from young plants in the ground they're definitely worth a try. You're completely right, it's definitely rewarding and 2, 3, 5, 10 years fly by in a flash and suddenly you're looking up at them without spending silly money!

I'm afraid your warning about avoiding impulse buying has come some 30 years too late, George. The vast majority of the plants I have, indoors & outdoors, have been bought on impulse. No cure for this I'm afraid. 😄

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Haha it's definitely a terminal disease Alan, I speak as a fellow sufferer! I try to make a selection of videos from the 'should do' to the 'this is what I did and it didn't work (again)', all part of the fun!

@missdimples1982

Жыл бұрын

Money well spent for the greenfingers, especially if it works out

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

@@missdimples1982 Certainly, there's a lot worse things to spend your money on! Even the plants that don't make it long term still bring a lot of enjoyment and greenery.

Great video and great advice as always George. Thanks 👍🏼

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Woohoo! Your back man.. really looking forward to this season!!

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Jerry! Hopefully some more garden visit videos this year!

Just got some ricinus zanzibarensis from premier seeds and a tall grass called Triahenna lutarioriparia from big plant nursery

@greatnorthernexotic

Жыл бұрын

Is the T. Lutarioriparia back in stock? I've been after it since last year but the only stockists (BPN and Pan Global Plants) have both been out of stock.

@christopherjones9826

Жыл бұрын

@@greatnorthernexotic bought it last June , not checked their site to be honest, you can always leave your email address and they will reply when it’s back in stock,not seen it for sale anywhere else.

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Great choices Christopher. That's definitely a Ricinus with the potential for big leaves and the grass is a monster! Just be aware it can (and probably will) run so some kind of barrier / management / space is required.

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

@@greatnorthernexotic Hi, they're the only two suppliers I know of - I got mine from Pan Global a few years ago. Hopefully they'll have more stock available later in spring, it's worth dropping them a message.

@greatnorthernexotic

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George. I have email alerts set up for new stock with both nurseries but have sent an email. 👍

Another great video with brilliant advice. I will be re thinking my garden. I have lost alot of plants. Lost a 6ft musa basjoo. The stem has gone mushy and hasn't recovered. Gutted is an understatement. Roll on summer!!

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Heather, sorry to hear about your Musa basjoo though! All I can say is that if the stem was that size, it'll very likely come back and should grow to a similar height again this year. If you saw the video I did of Mark's Tiki garden, he didn't protect his in the colder spell of 2020-2021 and they definitely came back well. Fingers crossed for you, but yes, roll on warmer weather!

@heatherfindler6950

Жыл бұрын

@George’s Jungle Garden I did see the video. I will keep my fingers crossed but it doesn't look good. I have treated my self to another tree fern 😁 can't wait to get it in the ground. My Fatsia isn't looking to good. Do they normally bounce back?

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

@@heatherfindler6950 My fingers are crossed for you too! Fatsia usually come back, yes. Sometimes the cold can do weird things to the leaves but they generally regrow again just fine. Congratulations on the tree fern, sounds like the perfect antidote to the rough winter. I love seeing the new fronds in spring!

Thanks George! Im in south Lincolnshire and will be starting to over hall my garden this spring, slowly creating a tropical look. Ive been doing some research with your videos and seeing what's available in my area. Thanks for the informative videos, from a fellow lifelong JP fan!

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Haha thank you very much! Yes, I do rock the JP shirts far too often, a great combo of dinosaurs and exotic plants! All the best with your tropical garden adventure, just leave a comment on any vid if you want more info.

Thanks for another great video George, I will definitely be re-structuring my garden this year as I've lost a few plants this year. Nothings was borderline hardy but the extended freeze took some of the so called hardy ones

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much John. Sorry to hear you've lost a few plants this year. I know that growing (and potentially losing) half hardy plants is part of the evolution of an exotic garden but this winter has definitely been especially testing for younger 'hardy' exotics. I'm sure whatever tough replacements you go for will bring you joy long term though, I can see Trachycarpus being in high demand this spring!

Great advice George. Being honest with yourself about planting is really important i find. Keeps me under control whilst shopping. Also common bulbs and plants do wonders for the tropical vibe. Had a few tropicals last year when i started, but the dormant Crocosmia bulbs that the previous owner planted really helped my scarce collection. Added just the right vibe

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much and yes, I know the feeling about needing too keep under control haha! You're completely right and Crocosmia might just be making a quick appearance in my next vid, great minds and all that!

Great video. I have just been in my garden and both my Phoenix canary palms have just spearpulled. One in the ground and one in a pot. This winter will definitely make me think about what I plant in the future, and I’m living on the south coast as well.

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks John. Sorry to hear your Phoenix have been hit hard and yes, this winter has definitely been a tough one even throughout a lot of areas that would usually escape the severe cold. It's so easy to have a few milder winters and get carried away isn't it. I do hope the palms come through for you though!

Great advice mate. The balance between managing the temptation to collect all the particular varieties of a species and marrying that with producing a true garden which gives that year round exotic vibe is a challenge. Out of interest on that subject I'm sure you'll be interested to hear the schefflera alpina I have has shown no damage whatsoever this winter despite not being protected. Spring is almost here, I've been sowing seeds today. A great feeling man👍

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks again! You're completely right, it's definitely a fine line for all of us not quite wealthy enough to afford a Cornish valley! I'm pleased to hear your alpina is looking good. I had a couple of small plants but found them to be a bit fickle, you may have landed on a good one though! When Schefflera are happy they seem to be incredibly tough. Hasn't it been great to enjoy a taste of mild (/not freezing) weather at last!

Thats a good point about the “common” tropical garden plants; Musa basjoo is still one of my favorite plants. I think your friend with the amazing garden with the circular theme and GH is a perfect example. Although for the rare plants, starting with small plants help with cost… I’ve heard that from a cool KZreadr before… 😜

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Haha yes, you are wise beyond your years! Mark's garden definitely shows off the Musa basjoo well, they look great with his Bali / Tiki theme. I think in our pursuit of the unusual and amassing a large variety of plants, it's easy to overlook how effective growing a few plants en masse can be. We don't quite have the summer heat you do but basjoo are still a solid choice!

Good vid. Nice guy

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Diane 😃

Haha number 2!!! That's me carried away palm collecting and it’s fallen on my arse❤😢😂

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Haha yep, me too! Palm collecting is definitely the most forgivable form of garden hoarding in my eyes though!

Interesting stuff George. I think you’re right, fast growing annuals could fill a lot of holes this year after the big freeze. I’ve ordered some Ricinus Zanzibariensis seeds from Chiltern’s. I lost a young tetrapanax in a pot, (in an unheated greenhouse ) and I think the Ricinus will do the job almost as well. Leaves almost 2ft across and up to 12ft high. In a few months! It’s got to be worth a go. Hope all is well with you and yours, keep up the good work mate.

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Don, just some ideas! Obviously anything goes and I'd still hope people plant exactly what they want to plant in their gardens (just as I do!) but for those looking to reduce winter damages going forwards, hopefully a bit of practicality helps out. Sorry to hear about Tetrapanax but I think you'll find the Ricinus definitely have the same kind of vibe. Their ultimate height seems quite variable based on the summer weather etc. but I'm sure they'll impress you and your garden visitors by late summer!

@DonMurrayYT

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgesJungleGarden I grew Carmencita last year and I loved them. I’ll have those too. Such a lot of plant in a short time. You can almost see it growing!

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

@@DonMurrayYT Ahh right, yes definitely! These should be even bigger. Blue Giant was always the biggest grower for me Zanzibariensis has the potential to be a beast!

Spot on I'm doing everything you said .but we still like two try the odd plant part off the fun

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Of course we do Steve, can't blame you! A couple of mild winters and we'll definitely be experimenting again!

I bought a load of exotics that -10 turned to mush , my tetra panex grown from root cuttings succumbed. Some of the palms are dried out. But I think your right I got carried away and collected things that were advertised as hard but couldn’t take the unusual,cold . .

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Sorry to hear a lot of yours have been hit hard as well Gordon. Hopefully spring brings some recoveries and new growth but this winter has definitely been a reminder that we can (and will) still experience this kind of cold and that younger hardy plants especially often won't survive a proper cold spell outside. As always it's a balance between risk / optimism and practicalities going forwards but I hope the rest of your garden still looks great soon enough! A few mild winters and I'm sure we'll be taking risks yet again!

Thank you for another good video. I live in Middelfart in Denmark, which temperature vise means we a climate somehow similar to Northern England. A typical winter we get downto minus 8-9 for a few days, some winters even colder, in 2010-11 we had minus 21C and in 2021 minus 17C for days. But the cold winters are getting fewer. This winter only around minus 5C a few times in December. So no obvious damages this winter so far. :) But I moved to a new house 9 months ago, haven't done any major "jungle gardening" here yet. Except moving and replanting some large T. fortunei's from the old garden, then I first wanted to experience some time in the new garden.As the new one is directly on the coast facing west, then it is also a lot more windy than the old. So while it often feels colder, then at least its a bit more protect against the really cold winters by it being so near the ocean. I am looking for some salt-tolerent tropical looking plants that can give some protection from the wind to the rest of the garden. Already have bamboos as you mentioned in the video.

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Hi Erik and thank you very much. That definitely sounds similar to Northern England although you've had a milder one this winter. Firstly, well done on taking the time with your new garden, it definitely takes restraint but certainly reduces any rushed mistakes! When it comes to exotic plants for coastal wind protection, it can often be a bit tricky and even a lot of coastal gardens in the south of England use more conventional tree plantings to shield the exotic plants. I guess it depends on your garden and the height required plus the severity of the winds you experience. In terms of tough exotics, I'd look to Chamaerops humilis, Cordyline australis, Phormiums etc. but none are tall enough to provide an effective barrier realistically. Are there any evergreen trees which you like? They might not necessarily be exotic but could compliment jungle planting well. In terms of bamboos, Fargesia robusta 'Campbell' is what I'd recommend if you want a tough bamboo - hopefully that's one you've already got lined up.

My cannas survived negative zero F this past winter. However, I heavily mulched them. I'm about to check on my giant elephant ears to see if they survived the below zero weather. We'll see!

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Nice one, the mulch is definitely the best way of keeping them in the ground reliably. Here our long and wet winters provide more challenges for keeping a lot of plants in the ground but if you have cold winters but then long warm summers it's definitely the way to go!

Great suggestions George 👍 I’ll be trying Hedychium and Musafolia this year in the gaps from the tough winter

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Niall! Hedychium can be a bit slow to get growing (so worth starting off in a polytunnel / greenhouse) but musafolia are certainly strong growers and soon expand to give more plants for the next year. I hope they both grow well for you.

@flamingmonkey

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgesJungleGarden oh that's good to know about Hedychium. We have no greenhouse/polytunnel but I could try indoors by a window to start them off.

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

@@flamingmonkey That could definitely work, yes. They take a certain amount of heat to get going and with a cool spring it can be that far into summer before they really get growing that flowering can be very late on. With a bit of gentle encouragement early on though, they do a good bit better in my experience.

@flamingmonkey

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks for the tips 👍 . By the way, i've also taken your advice about using Nasturtiums to fill gaps. Have three packs of seeds ready to direct sow.

Great advice and great video. I’m definitely going back to lifting cannas and wrapping musa etc - I’ve never really been successful leaving cannas in the ground tbh. This year I got caught out by not having time to wrap stuff in pots and thinking plants would be ok stored in my unheated greenhouse. I was quite wrong 😢. I recently moved to a new place about eight miles from the South Coast near Portsmouth, and thought plants would be ok -sadly, everything froze solid - even the gingers in pots in the garage froze solid. Think I’ve lost my M. Basjoo 😢- a cutting from a 20 year old mother plant I had to leave behind at my old house 😢😢. Holding my breath about everything else 🤞. I will persevere however! Loving your thoughts on nasturtiums - we’ve inherited those in the new garden - they were fantastic last Summer and Autumn. So hope they’ll self seed this year. Finally, another good tip from the late, great Mr Will Giles is to use house plants (especially bromeliads) as summer bedding. Thanks for posting great videos.

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Colin! Sorry to hear you've also had a lot of damage this year. It's definitely been a very tricky winter for an unusually large area of the UK and cold enough that an unheated greenhouse or polytunnel sadly wasn't enough to protect a lot of exotics. When it comes to cannas and Musa basjoo, all these plants that grow from corms and tubers etc., I fin it's always worth waiting - you never know what might come back and they often take their time doing it. Fingers crossed for a good spring! I'm sure your nasturtiums will self seed well and they're a handy little gap filler to have around, easily removed where unwanted too. I'm a fan of using the odd house plant here and there too, they definitely help add that genuinely exotic feel. All the best with your spring growing!

Hi George a newbie from Lincoln a few palms fortunei, and volcano looking for a waggy soon. Grasses and Acers in pots. Hostas and ferns in the shade. Going for cannas in pot this year. Have you tried Rudies Roots Nurseries in Nettleham. Tree ferns and palms etc. keep up the videos 👍🤓

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Hi and thanks, I'll try my best! Sounds like you've got a great mix of plants on the go! I haven't tried there, thanks for the heads up. I'll have to pop in one day. All the best with your garden plans for this year!

Such a difficult year it's hard to know how much to let it steer your planting choices. I live in a Surrey suburb so fairly mild in the uk. This winter, I have lost mature cistus, cordylines and fatsia, some of which are over 30 years old. Do I risk them again and hope we don't get those conditions for another 30 years? I love the inspiring videos George!

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Mandy, and sorry to hear your garden was also badly affected by the weather this winter. It's definitely been a notable winter for the severity, duration and spread of the cold weather and I think made even worse by how quickly it appeared. As for your question, I guess that's the same one a lot of exotic gardeners have asked over the years. When it comes to the hardier plants, most winters they should be fine but who knows what the future may bring. We may have milder winters for the next 10 or next year could be a carbon copy of this one. Personally I'd be tempted to replant with younger versions (once you've given the others chance to bounce back) but maybe use it as a chance to experiment with different plants and create a positive out of the situation.

Sound advice George ,we had snow again this morning . Roll on spring or maybe we are just going from winter straight to summer this year and skipping spring 🤣🤣🤣 all my daffodils are flattened with snow 🤣

@tropiclaud

Жыл бұрын

Oh no! My crocuses croaked too😂 Gotta love the drama that UK weather brings

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

I think we'll just be alternating between blizzards and heatwaves going forwards Shane! How you manage to have such an impressive spring display is a miracle!

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

My crocuses didn't last this year either, you know it's a rough winter when even traditional bulbs poke their head out and think nope!

I’d like to add butterbur to this list… huge leaves in a single season then die back for winter and grow back next year, need to manage them a bit tho they tend to spread

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

That's a great suggestion as long as the spread is kept in check, thanks! I remember seeing loads at Picton castle, they grew really well there and definitely added some big leaves to their exotic area.

@justanotherfaceinthecrowd

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgesJungleGarden I can’t believe how big they grow! But ye they definitely get a rampage on 😆

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

@@justanotherfaceinthecrowd Haha yes, they look mega oversized, cool plants when you have a big clump of them!

Great tips as usual George, Yep I'm still running around like a lunatic wrapping up tree ferns on frosty nights.On a different note the 3 Tropical plant books you reviewed if you could choose only 1which would it be ,based on plant layout and types of plants that look best together. I'm aiming for vibrant ModernTropical lsland look.🏝🤣

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Paul, you and me both! As for the books, I'd definitely go for The Jungle Garden by Philip Oostenbrink, it's more focused on practical advice and plant suggestions for the tropical look. You'll really enjoy it.

@PaulConnor100

Жыл бұрын

@George’s Jungle Garden Thanks mate! I want to get this right alot of blood sweat and money going into this.🤣

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

@@PaulConnor100 No worries haha! Good luck with it all, I hope you have a productive spring!

nasturtiums grow like weeds in my garden, if all else fails I can rely on them for some summer colour!

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Fantastic Ella, they're definitely great at covering up a lot of bare soil and doing their thing without any effort!

Thank you for the great video George. I have chosen to grow coleus and salvia as annuals from seed this year, the coleus started germinating after a week! once germinated will they be ok in the window or will they need a grow light? when researching it seems they only need to be kept warm and wet but im sure they would need some sort of light?

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Hi and thank you very much. Nice choices! Generally speaking, the earlier you sow them, the more likely they are to need additional light and also, the warmer they are, the more light they'll need to support healthy growth. A grow light would be optimal but if being close to a bright window is the best you can do then I'm sure they'll manage with a bit of turning round. The more light the better though (to a point) so hopefully we get some brighter days again soon!

@miley3252

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks for taking the time to reply. I will pop them on my south facing windows and see how they go.

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

@@miley3252 No worries, good luck with them!

Almost ALL of my plant purchases are impulsive. Partly due to not being able to get what i had planned to, and sometimes just in the thrall of plantarama exuberancy.

@GeorgesJungleGarden

8 ай бұрын

A lot of mine are too! I wouldn't want to discourage that at all, but there's obviously a difference between a bit of a garden centre splurge when you have a rough idea of what the plants are and where they're going vs. somebody newer to growing spending a lot of money on some potentially tender or trickier specimens. I love your 'in the thrall of plantarama exuberancy' phrase! I guess the more you get into plants, the more the care and positioning etc. becomes instinctive, but for somebody who wants the overall look without a lot of hassle, it's well worth doing a little bit of research to save a lot of effort, money and potential heartbreak!

Would you recommend mexican fan palms, I'm in London

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Hi, I guess it depends on where you live in London and the temperatures you saw this winter but generally speaking I wouldn't class them as reliably hardy throughout the vast majority of the UK. If you live somewhere relatively sheltered in London and there's other larger Washingtonia or Phoenix growing well around you then they're definitely worth a go but if you've seen anything close to -10 this winter then they're certainly not a long term prospect unfortunately.

Hey George - any tips for leaning trunks? I planted both a fortunei and a waggy about a year ago and both trucks which are about 40cm tall are leaning at about a 20 degree angle. The OCD in me is bugged by that and wants them straight 😂🤔 Do you think they’ll just keep growing at an angle (not ideal in a narrow garden) or should I try intervene?

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Hi, a couple of my larger ones are doing this where they've naturally settled and it definitely gets me a bit too haha! Personally I'm just leaving them to it but with yours being relatively small, is there any reason why they might be leaning? Are they planted close to a fence or something that's shading them out?

@ARW.7

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks! I think it’s the way they’re in a slightly raised area and I’ve put them in straight and as they’ve settled I’ve not paid too much attention to the angle, likely because they trucks were so small it’s hard to tell initially. But yeah I think I’ll just leave them do their thing. But they are quite impactful in my garden compared to anything else so they might become a bit too obvious and look odd leaning 🤷🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

@@ARW.7 Ahh right. If the ground is already quite compacted I'd leave them alone and not risk any root damage trying to level them. I think they'll straighten out long term and ultimately you'll probably never notice the slight bend near the base.

We've got a Silver Birch tree that's 6m tall and not very exotic in its natural state. I've agreed to not remove it but I'd like to lop the top to maintain the height and then trim the branches to look more exotic. Would you be able to do a video on how to do this or recommend someone else who has achieved this?

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Hi and interesting question! I like birches, lovely trees and although they might grow in similar areas to Trachycarpus, I agree they don't immediately look exotic. In all honesty I wouldn't have the expertise to suggest anything on the pruning subject, it's really something that has to be done properly to avoid ruining the tree so maybe worth checking with a qualified tree surgeon? Every tree is different and it's hard to say definitively that pruning or training it would create the look you want. Personally I'd keep the tree, let it grow up and out then maybe lift the crown if required and then underplant with more shade loving exotics. The only thing I'd be aware of is that birches are generally quite shallow rooted so will take a good bit of water from surrounding vegetation.

@4parsnips976

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks for your honest reply. I'll find a tree surgeon. It's definitely sucking water away from the nearby plants but our fatsia japonica is holding steady. Thanks again.

I lost a lot of plants, so definitely will change my approach. I wrapped my Musa basjoo, but they still went mushy. I lifted my red bananas, but they went mouldy... and I lost my Cordyline Redstar. Which is annoying, as some of my neighbours didn’t loose theirs. Oh well! My green cordies all have brown leaves in the centre - all around town that’s the case though, even on the very big ones. I probably lost cannas and dahlias, as I left them in the ground, we’ll see! I lost a few more plants, but that was expected, they were listed as half-hardy and I didn’t/couldn’t protect them. I just don’t have the time to overwinter things well. 😅

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Sorry to hear you lost a lot too, yeah, time was definitely tricky that week. Given the duration of the freezing temperatures though, there's only so much a thorough fleecing would have done so don't beat yourself up about it. It's the same story with cordylines here, even the 3-5m high ones around have brown centres unless they're next to houses. I'm playing the same waiting game with the cannas and dahlias too, so hopefully spring will bring some good surprises there!

@jimbailey3705

Жыл бұрын

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Got my fingers crossed for you! Especially for the scheffleras, one especially looked very bad. But we won't know until Spring! I thought 3 out of 4 of my pseudopanax moas toes had actually pulled through the hard frost, but they now all look really bad. They were half-hardy though! I also lost a Correa Marian's Marvel. The tag did say down to -5C, but it was in a protected spot... I wasn't expecting it to die, but when it did, I also wasn't too surprised, if that makes sense. That Correa took up a lot of room, I'm really not sure what to replace it with. I just can't decide if it should be a giant hebe, a phormium tenax (but that will take over too much in future I think), some bamboo or a trachy. Lots of choices to make! :D :D :D That's the positive bit about a hard winter I guess. Time for a re-think!

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

@@jimbailey3705 Thanks! I’d really like it if the Schefflera come back as I had long term plans for them but you’re completely right that you have to wait. You definitely speak common sense, I try not to be too disheartened about losing half hardy plants because they were ultimately always a gamble. When it comes to the hardier plants in theory, like it Schefflera and your Pseudopanax, some look rough but will cone back, others may decline further before we’ll know the outcome. I appreciate your positivity though, plant losses always means plant opportunities! Hopefully your damaged plants come back though!

Hi George, how toxic are ricinus plants to dogs? This is the only reason I’ve never planted one in the past

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Hi, they are toxic plants and I imagine they would be harmful to dogs unfortunately. I grew them when we just had Max as he was never bothered with chewing plants and eating bits and pieces - I just grew them out of the way and was careful to tidy up fallen seed pods. But now we have Remi, he sniffs around everywhere and would probably be attracted to the bright coloured seed pods so they're not worth the risk for me. Like everything, I think it's a case of weighing up the risks for you - they're unlikely to eat the plants themselves but the seeds could be concerning.

hi my Trachycarpus fortunei hs black marks all over its palms does anyone know what these marks are

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

Hi, if there’s just a few blemishes on tone older leaves it could be a fungal issue but on the whole if the plant looks healthy I wouldn’t worry too much, they rarely look pristine close up.

Sadly, i have lost all my cordylines and i have several different varieties. I have 3 types of bamboos and one type of them ( i dont know the names) looks damaged which I was surprised. Looks like dying. Being only 3 years into tropical gardening, is disheartening to me.

@GeorgesJungleGarden

Жыл бұрын

That's sad to hear, sorry to hear you've been hit hard. My smaller Cordylines were wiped out too. As for your bamboo, most of the widely available Phyllostachys and Fargesia are pretty tough so that's surprising to hear, is it a black nigra bamboo by any chance? Hopefully spring brings some new growth and optimism in your garden.