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Post by floydie on Jun 23, 2011 18:57:20 GMT
The RHS book came today (plants for places) so Ive been reading through it and got to acid soil. Ive just been outside and tested most of my soil it ranges from PH5- neutral. Ermmm. The most sandy soil is neutral and the sandy/clay being PH5. Just my luck that the spot i had planed for one of the Magnolias is Neutral . I haven't tested the front yet.
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Post by Cherry on Jun 23, 2011 19:01:58 GMT
Neutral will be perfect for your magnolia Floydie, and with your soil you can start looking at rhododendrons and camellias. A lot of people would consider you to be very fortunate.
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Post by floydie on Jun 23, 2011 19:08:11 GMT
Next door (other way) have a Magnolia and rhododendron planted directly in the ground . It needs to be a little higher than 5. though to be best for the plants doesnt it?? One area (very small patch were nothing will grow) is off the scale acid .
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Post by merlin on Jun 23, 2011 19:11:33 GMT
I'm told that you can grow much more on the Alkaline side but I wouldn't mind an area of your soil
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Post by Cherry on Jun 23, 2011 19:15:05 GMT
No Floydie. Get the most from your wonderful soil and look at rhodies. I buy cheap camellias in supermarkets, which have nothing but 'red' or whatever on them (no name). They soon grow. You can grow those beautiful acers which Steve grows. I can grow all of these, but suffer with lack of rain and high winds. Go girl! Lucky you.
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Post by floydie on Jun 23, 2011 19:21:19 GMT
What about the plants i already have?? Could also explain why the hydrangeas have gone from Red last year to pink & purple this plus the leaves are red . I have a Camellia and an Azalea OH got me waiting to go some were ;D.
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Post by peony on Jun 23, 2011 19:30:09 GMT
What about the plants i already have?? Could also explain why the hydrangeas have gone from Red last year to pink & purple this plus the leaves are red . I have a Camellia and an Azalea OH got me waiting to go some were ;D. Could be the soil Floydie, my hydrangeas in chalky soil are always pink, but in acid soil they can be blue. I water the one I have in a pot with hydrangea colourant (aluminium sulphate) which keeps it blue. I can't grow camellias or azaleas here because the soil is too alkaline. But my magnolia grows OK
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Post by Geranium on Jun 23, 2011 19:36:18 GMT
You'll be able to grow all sorts of plants and shrubs that I can't in my neutral soil. I do have a Magnolia, though - that's doing well in the ground. I have a Pieris, a Camellia and a Kalmia latifolia all in pots. I think you probably have the best of both worlds!
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Post by floydie on Jun 23, 2011 19:42:39 GMT
I have a pieris little heath in a pot too but it says on the lable its not frost hardy. So my other plants should be ok then??
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Post by scrumpy on Jun 23, 2011 20:51:17 GMT
just grow spuds...they like acid soil and make a wonderful foliage plant
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Post by Cherry on Jun 23, 2011 20:56:54 GMT
I have a pieris little heath in a pot too but it says on the lable its not frost hardy. So my other plants should be ok then?? I don't know why the label stated that the Pieris is not frost hardy. It would be the only one I know which is tender. I googled it and it did not have this information anywhere. Put it out, but in a more sheltered position. Is this the hydrangea you moved Floydie? It will still be confused. Scrumpy says potatoes. You could put a couple in. Beth could do this.
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Post by floydie on Jun 23, 2011 21:13:11 GMT
We have tattys growing in the veg bed and 4 grow bags should have plenty for this year . I didnt move the Hydrangeas i was going to move the large white one as it blocks the view from the kitchen window, its all 3 little red (now pink) ones that have changed.
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Post by Louise on Jun 24, 2011 5:10:44 GMT
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Post by merlin on Jun 24, 2011 5:31:23 GMT
I have a pieris little heath in a pot too but it says on the lable its not frost hardy. So my other plants should be ok then?? I agree with Cherry, but I wonder if when they said 'not frost hardy' they meant leaf frost burn. I used to get it before I moved it away from the morning sun.
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Post by Cherry on Jun 24, 2011 6:27:09 GMT
I think that label on the Pieris just covered the outlets. Put it out. It looks very nice.
The Expert books which Louise advised are excellent.
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