Duro, have you dug up beneath the bluebells? Blow the seeds, just look at the number of little white corms – they grow like mini spuds. Once they’ve finished dying back, dig them up and only return a few of the corms and dispose of the rest via the most convenient or profitable means. As regards the mint, the soil is probably spent, try digging in some compost. Does it have enough sunlight? It’ll tolerate some shade, but doesn’t like full shade. Mint also like a reasonable degree of watering. Jenni, I was going to plant some foxgloves, but you’re putting me off! I have an outrage of Canterbury Bells – I adore them, but I’ve got something of a surplus of both white and blue – I need to move some around, particularly where I have a full mass of white ones against a cream coloured wall. They don’t show off too well, so need to dig a few out and introduce some of the blue ones, but still have masses of both to lose! My Canna flower spike has just started to open over the last couple of days and, today, I notice a second plant is producing a flower spike as well. At this time of year I could do with an Indian Summer to give them a chance!_________________

*Boudicca – Gets REALLY stroppy after a pint!*

Duro, have you dug up beneath the bluebells? Blow the seeds, just look at the number of little white corms – they grow like mini spuds. Once they’ve finished dying back, dig them up and only return a few of the corms and dispose of the rest via the most convenient or profitable means. As regards the mint, the soil is probably spent, try digging in some compost. Does it have enough sunlight? It’ll tolerate some shade, but doesn’t like full shade. Mint also like a reasonable degree of watering. Jenni, I was going to plant some foxgloves, but you’re putting me off! I have an outrage of Canterbury Bells – I adore them, but I’ve got something of a surplus of both white and blue – I need to move some around, particularly where I have a full mass of white ones against a cream coloured wall. They don’t show off too well, so need to dig a few out and introduce some of the blue ones, but still have masses of both to lose! My Canna flower spike has just started to open over the last couple of days and, today, I notice a second plant is producing a flower spike as well. At this time of year I could do with an Indian Summer to give them a chance!_________________

*Boudicca – Gets REALLY stroppy after a pint!*

Val, snails are nocturnal so feed during the night. As dawn approaches, particularly in warm weather, they crawl up walls, fences etc looking for crevices and overhangs in or under which they can shelter and sleep without becoming dehydrated. The surface is generally immaterial as it seems to be a phallacy that they don’t like crawling over rough surfaces. As fish says, dry, absorbant surfaces seem to cause them real discomfort and are a better deterrent. Durnovarian…. blackbirds and thrushes like well planted borders/beds, lots of plants they can hide behind and move around in relative obscurity and out of sight of potential predators. If you plant some shrubs that also grow quite dense and around 6′ to 10′ high, they may also be tempted to nest. When putting out wild bird foods (the more birds you attract, the more chance you have of attracting blackbirds and thrushes), put out some live food ie: mealworms, for the robins, blackbirds etc. Oh, and try to keep the soil well dug or ‘chivvied’ to loosen the top layers – they like to poke around in the soil and look for easy work. If the soil surface is hard and dry, they’ll go elsewhere for easier pickings._________________

*Boudicca – Gets REALLY stroppy after a pint!*

Val, snails are nocturnal so feed during the night. As dawn approaches, particularly in warm weather, they crawl up walls, fences etc looking for crevices and overhangs in or under which they can shelter and sleep without becoming dehydrated. The surface is generally immaterial as it seems to be a phallacy that they don’t like crawling over rough surfaces. As fish says, dry, absorbant surfaces seem to cause them real discomfort and are a better deterrent. Durnovarian…. blackbirds and thrushes like well planted borders/beds, lots of plants they can hide behind and move around in relative obscurity and out of sight of potential predators. If you plant some shrubs that also grow quite dense and around 6′ to 10′ high, they may also be tempted to nest. When putting out wild bird foods (the more birds you attract, the more chance you have of attracting blackbirds and thrushes), put out some live food ie: mealworms, for the robins, blackbirds etc. Oh, and try to keep the soil well dug or ‘chivvied’ to loosen the top layers – they like to poke around in the soil and look for easy work. If the soil surface is hard and dry, they’ll go elsewhere for easier pickings._________________

*Boudicca – Gets REALLY stroppy after a pint!*

Val, snails are nocturnal so feed during the night. As dawn approaches, particularly in warm weather, they crawl up walls, fences etc looking for crevices and overhangs in or under which they can shelter and sleep without becoming dehydrated. The surface is generally immaterial as it seems to be a phallacy that they don’t like crawling over rough surfaces. As fish says, dry, absorbant surfaces seem to cause them real discomfort and are a better deterrent. Durnovarian…. blackbirds and thrushes like well planted borders/beds, lots of plants they can hide behind and move around in relative obscurity and out of sight of potential predators. If you plant some shrubs that also grow quite dense and around 6′ to 10′ high, they may also be tempted to nest. When putting out wild bird foods (the more birds you attract, the more chance you have of attracting blackbirds and thrushes), put out some live food ie: mealworms, for the robins, blackbirds etc. Oh, and try to keep the soil well dug or ‘chivvied’ to loosen the top layers – they like to poke around in the soil and look for easy work. If the soil surface is hard and dry, they’ll go elsewhere for easier pickings._________________

*Boudicca – Gets REALLY stroppy after a pint!*

If you’re in the mood for something colourful with an unusual tropical look, you might like to consider an Anthurium. They’re about 18″ high but very colourful. The petals and leaves have the appearance of being gloss painted and mature ones can flower twice a year. They can survive the winter with very little watering and the summer with a watering just once a week (perhaps twice a week in very hot weather, but they don’t want too much at a time – the soil surface can be constantly dry! As regards aspect, they like a light spot as opposed to a dark corner, but not direct sunlight. Oh, they also like their leaves to be dusted and polished every now and then as well as lots of luvvy chats (that’s according to Boudicca!). Colours vary from deep postbox red to cream, so there’s a reasonable selection to go with your decor. BTW they cost around £8 for a good sized plant and they’re available in garden centres and florists around now._________________

*Boudicca – Gets REALLY stroppy after a pint!*

If you’re in the mood for something colourful with an unusual tropical look, you might like to consider an Anthurium. They’re about 18″ high but very colourful. The petals and leaves have the appearance of being gloss painted and mature ones can flower twice a year. They can survive the winter with very little watering and the summer with a watering just once a week (perhaps twice a week in very hot weather, but they don’t want too much at a time – the soil surface can be constantly dry! As regards aspect, they like a light spot as opposed to a dark corner, but not direct sunlight. Oh, they also like their leaves to be dusted and polished every now and then as well as lots of luvvy chats (that’s according to Boudicca!). Colours vary from deep postbox red to cream, so there’s a reasonable selection to go with your decor. BTW they cost around £8 for a good sized plant and they’re available in garden centres and florists around now._________________

*Boudicca – Gets REALLY stroppy after a pint!*

If you’re in the mood for something colourful with an unusual tropical look, you might like to consider an Anthurium. They’re about 18″ high but very colourful. The petals and leaves have the appearance of being gloss painted and mature ones can flower twice a year. They can survive the winter with very little watering and the summer with a watering just once a week (perhaps twice a week in very hot weather, but they don’t want too much at a time – the soil surface can be constantly dry! As regards aspect, they like a light spot as opposed to a dark corner, but not direct sunlight. Oh, they also like their leaves to be dusted and polished every now and then as well as lots of luvvy chats (that’s according to Boudicca!). Colours vary from deep postbox red to cream, so there’s a reasonable selection to go with your decor. BTW they cost around £8 for a good sized plant and they’re available in garden centres and florists around now._________________

*Boudicca – Gets REALLY stroppy after a pint!*

If you’re in the mood for something colourful with an unusual tropical look, you might like to consider an Anthurium. They’re about 18″ high but very colourful. The petals and leaves have the appearance of being gloss painted and mature ones can flower twice a year. They can survive the winter with very little watering and the summer with a watering just once a week (perhaps twice a week in very hot weather, but they don’t want too much at a time – the soil surface can be constantly dry! As regards aspect, they like a light spot as opposed to a dark corner, but not direct sunlight. Oh, they also like their leaves to be dusted and polished every now and then as well as lots of luvvy chats (that’s according to Boudicca!). Colours vary from deep postbox red to cream, so there’s a reasonable selection to go with your decor. BTW they cost around £8 for a good sized plant and they’re available in garden centres and florists around now._________________

*Boudicca – Gets REALLY stroppy after a pint!*

If you’re in the mood for something colourful with an unusual tropical look, you might like to consider an Anthurium. They’re about 18″ high but very colourful. The petals and leaves have the appearance of being gloss painted and mature ones can flower twice a year. They can survive the winter with very little watering and the summer with a watering just once a week (perhaps twice a week in very hot weather, but they don’t want too much at a time – the soil surface can be constantly dry! As regards aspect, they like a light spot as opposed to a dark corner, but not direct sunlight. Oh, they also like their leaves to be dusted and polished every now and then as well as lots of luvvy chats (that’s according to Boudicca!). Colours vary from deep postbox red to cream, so there’s a reasonable selection to go with your decor. BTW they cost around £8 for a good sized plant and they’re available in garden centres and florists around now._________________

*Boudicca – Gets REALLY stroppy after a pint!*