Poorly Gardens

[tarmmaker]

Has anybody else's garden suffered since that days storm last spring? It was the one that killed most new growth, even the weeds, roadside trees were brown on one side. We have very little blossom on the fruit trees this year and a lot of other stuff has died. I seem to remember the Forestry Commission said it was salt-laden air that did all the damage, but we all live only a few miles from the sea and get salt-laden air all the time. Has anybody heard anything? Acid rain? Sarin gas? UFO stuff?

[Bonnie Lass]

I was just commenting on the state of some of the trees this afternoon, they look quite brown, not sure if they are going to "spring up" this year. Lost some lavender plants over winter and the budleja is taking its time to grow, but its early days yet - this is the first bit of warmth for some time.

[smiles]

Perhaps that answers why the greens at Machrihanish Golf Course is the worst ever? Think 18 ufos landed on there greens.

[howlsatthemoon]

Perhaps that answers why the greens at Machrihanish Golf Course is the worst ever? Think 18 ufos landed on there greens.

The weather could have been one of the factors, but the other courses in the area had the same weather and I can't see any problems with their greens or fairways.

[LANDROVER ROGER]

We had the same problem here in Staffordshire.Radio 4 Gardener`s Question Time said that the severe cold weather happened while plants were still in growth so the sap was still rising.This enabled the frost to reach the heart of the plant and kill it.I had two Cordylines which had grown to a good eight feet in height.Now just brown stumps.

[argylltourist]

Last years early Spring wind was thankfully exceptional. The winds were salt-laden, but this is not normally as detrimental

nor as prolongued. Usually plants/trees etc. can cope. Also due to strong winds many plants were loosened and voila!

It'll take a year or two for young trees to recover, but many will not. If in doubt scratch your thumbnail on bark of shrub or tree and if it's green it'll be ok.

[lochend]

Roger,I live on the Wirral and two years ago all the Cordylines died off locally, due to extreme weather.Nobody seemed to know whether the would grow again,we were left with rather sorry unsightly stumps.The following year these trees, which appeared to be dead grew several shoots from around the base of the stump.This gives you an option of transplanting five or six new trees!