Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Absolutely CLUELESS in the garden... help?

Okay, the rhoedendron will hate lime in it the soil so the likelihood is it's too alkaline (you can get cheap soil tests to check). Digging some acidic organic matter (rotted bark is good I think) around the plant will help...as will some chemical compounds, but I'm gonna have to double check which one's it is (don't want you to poison the poor thing!

).

Grass seed...Aerate the lawn first: if you haven't got a spiky-wheel-thingy (aerator) just go round sticking a fork into the ground. If you've got heavy soil, then sprinkle some horticultural sand into the holes. Then rake over the bare patches to loosen the soil. Then sprinkle the seed over...and then WATER. Make sure you keep on watering it (preferably with a sprinkler so the seed and seedlings don't get swamped or washed away) unless you're getting regular rain. And once it starts getting to normal grass height, mow frequently....letting it get long will not help it but will weaken it.

Shade. Hmm...climbing hydrangea, certain primroses (gonna have to look up the names later), foxgloves, bugle , Candelabra primula , Christmas rose , Solomon's seal , Dog's tooth violet , Bergenia , Brunnera , Fibrous rooted begonia , Tuberous begonias , Gentian , some hardy Geraniums , Himalayan Blue Poppy (these are gorgeous), Lungwort (hideous name, isn't it?)...or you can get some heucheras with fantastically coloured foliage.

Hope that helps...I'll check the rhody problem later.

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