Calluna Vulgaris - Silver Knight Heather

So lovely.

Very nice, will go well with my others

Its So Pretty :) iv 6 different Heathers myself Oddb & 1 is also in flower @ present :)

Not sure if the colour will sit with your vivid coloured ones digs so I'd better keep hold of mine for now!! lol!!

Jacque: Being a novice, what will happen to this over winter? Does it stay in flower, should I do owt with it? I water it regularly and it's only been this past 3 weeks that it's started to really flourish and the more it does, the more I like it!

Dont over water Oddb let it flower its heart out then when finished just snip of the Dead Flowers with a pair Of Pruners /Scissors :)

AH, that's good to know., thanks Jacque. Will cut back on watering then. I don't pour loads on but maybe I do it every few days.

Will it come back next year?

I would like to add, folks, that you should cut the flowering stems back to where the main foliage begins, and try to keep a uniform shape to the plant - often a dome shape, just like trimming thyme or marjoram or similar. if you leave any bits of stalk, you'll end up with ugly brown woody stems with tufts of new foliage forming on the ends, a bit like a Hebe goes if not pruned. You'll have to do this trimming once a year, after flowering, to keep it neat-looking and get even more flowers each year.

Cheers David - can I call you Dave?

So do this when they start dieing back? And down to the crown as it were or further up the stem?

It's potted at present but tempted to replant in border as so nice!

Call me anything you like (Madperth calls me lots of things!!). Lots of folk at work call me Dave, and I don't mind at all!

The crown of a plant usually refers to the point, just above soil level, where the main stems and foliage branch off from, so, NO! not this far back! Just cut it back to the point where the leaves are more numerous and closer together.

Will have to think about the soil in your border first, but Callunas are very, very versatile when it comes down to soil type, location, etc. Some do better in shade, some in brighter sites, some thrive in dry soil, others in moist soil (sometimes peaty, or ericaceaous compost). Some thrive in dry, sandy soil, some prefer moist, acid, peaty soil - yes, very versatile! You might want to Google (or whatever search engine you use) to home in on "Silver Knight" in particular, to see in which conditions this variety does best.

:-)

Thanks Dave!

Soil here is not great on veg side of garden as mostly clay and stone but it 'seems' to be getting better the further over we come but still full of stones!!

I was going to take the top layer of turf off the grass to make the border then dig it over for winter with some top soil and fish bone ready for next year.

Not sure if this will do but would appreciate any advice in general as it's fairly easy at mo as most things in tubs/pots!

Off to bed now but will pick up your reply tomorrow night after work...10-8pm for the next 3 days - JOY!!!

Thanks again and later!

I would say, Dan, that it would be good to remove the grass now, and dig the soil over. But adding anything now might be a waste of time, energy and money. Leave the dug over clay soil over winter. Frosts, rain, snow etc wil help break down the clumps. Anthing added now (topsoil, sand, etc, would just "leech" away into the subsoil and disappear without doing any good. Next Spring, add some sand, if you can. Rake in some nutrient (like the blood/fish/bone) just a few weeks b4 you aim to put in plants. Also, you can stack the grass turfs in a corner somewhere to rot down, then add back into the border. Also, empty the compost from tubs, pots, etc into the border, as will help improve the soil.

Hope you had a good day at work!

Thanks for that Dave!

I'm hoping it won't be so, if at all, clayey over the border side. Hoping to dig up in October so will do as you say and just leave it all once dug and raked until say February/march maybe then do again with the fish/blood/bone.

You're a star, cheers mate!

Honestly OB, don't bother with the raking bit until your ready to plant, just leave the big clods on the surface and let mother nature do her stuff! ! !

Exactly, Ian - I never mentioned raking of any sort. Save that energy for something else, Dan!!!!!!!

Like drinking Voddie!!!! lol!

Okay, cheers guys. I will merely dig out the border area and leave the lumps to do whatever they do!

Thanks digs.

I mentioned the raking coz I just assumed Dave so my fault!

Cheers both:0)

I would save your energy for the voddie then OB. Lol

If you get to know Oddbille as well as I know him, you'll get to know him as the VODKA MONSTER!!! Many of you will give him a run for his money in the gardening stakes, but I know who I would back in the drinking department..... :-)

Don't give me a bad name future son-in-law!! I am not a big drinker....I just like a drink when we have a get together!

But thanks for your backing. Nice to see my girl today, even if it was to ask me 'a favour'.....:0)

I 'like' a drink OB I bet we could teach cragsta how to do it. LOL

You could bet on that one digs!

I actually, really am not a drinker. Seldom drink at home unless we have company over for a drink and only really drink then or at a party. Voddie is my tipple and the first time young Cragsta came to our old gaff f to meet us, he brought flowers for Ali and wine etc.

Thought he could 'outdrink me and sort of laid down a wee challenge, in so many words.

We started drinking about 7.3oish and at 5.45AM the following morning, I was just pouring the last of the Rose wine into my glass - well, I'd run out of voddie by then! - and the young challenger to the throne was.......SNORING!!

Say no more, eh digs!!!

Lol OB, these young un's dont know their born! ! !

I say young, he's in his early 30's but still can't drink!! :0)-

Is that a good or bad thing for a future in law?

Well, I'd say bad thing. He starts sweating if I say I'll pour him another drink...!!

What do you do mate? He'll get there I'm sure.

I've promised them I'd go down their new gaff, when they move in, for a day to clear the back garden. It's a great size and loads you can do. I'll make sure I take pics!!

How you felling now anyway, mate? All recovered and good as can be?

As good as can be expected.......... I'm fine mate thanks hows you?

Waitng for the elusive lottery win that will buy us our dream in the country with a huuuuge garden to do as we please!!

Other than that, time flies and never any time for us to be together but.....we are together so that's good.

It's difficult as I enjoy it on here but being back in work restricts the time I can be on here as I have just done 3 long days and another tomorrow. I was spoilt them 3 weeks I was off plus, I'm getting frustrated as I want to get started on the next stage of the garden!!

Ah well, could always have a voddie if it all gets too much!

oddbillie

Joined 24 Jul, 2009

Gb
WALES
Oddbillie

We started drinking about 7.3oish and at 5.45AM the following morning, I was just pouring the last of the Rose wine into my glass - well, I'd run out of voddie by then! - and the young challenger to the throne was.......SNORING!!

"Cragsta"

I do believe that I was not only treating you to my SNORING (which really sounds like a cute kitten purring, so I'm told) but also to a fair few bottom trumps!!! LOL

Not to long now Oddbillie, and the keys shall be ours....

I am actually looking forward to getting stuck into the garden tbh. I've got some really good idea's, mainly surrounding the Koi Pond, hope you like DIGGIN'!!!

I also believe young man thatyou text your girlfriend - my girl - at 'silly o clock asking where she was........upstairs in bed I think!!

You can forget Koi for a couple of years. I will, however, plan the garden with an area for you.....fenced off and lockable from the outside:0))-

I trust you are both well?