Summer/Autumn plants

[whitbybabe]

I have this morning just taken all of my summer plants out as they have died early.Usually marigolds carry on when you dead head them but not this year.I think the constant rain might have something to do with it.So now I need to know what to replace them with.I have four half moon shaped containers on my fence,a three tier basket container and various pots.Is there anything that I can put in now that will last until winter pansies are ready ?Oh.I also have some strawberry and raspberry seeds,when do I sow them,I am assuming it will be early next year?

[Thunderbird+]

Hi Whitbybabe,
Yes, I agree if you've experianced a lot of rain in your area, it can have an adverse affect on our garden plants.
I think the best thing to do is go to some of the bigger garden centres or DIY store's and see whats on offer and whats still looking good. Sometimes you can pick up some nice bargains at this late stage in the season, which make great stop-gaps but avoid anything in reduced section if it seems diseased or has tiny flies buzzing around them!

Strawberry and raspberry seeds can be sown in trays in late autumn or spring, or strawbs can be propagated from runners in the summer (just peg them down into a pot,til rooted) or alternativly take root cuttings or suckers from your rasps in the autumn and pot them up.

Good Luck Tbird+

[whitbybabe]

Thanks for that.x

[Robinia]

Oh I know just how you feel whitbybabe - I despair when I look at my garden - even tho' everyone tells me it's lovely it doesn't have much colour left this year. The shrubs have revelled in the rain but the small things I add for colour have rotted or the snails & slugs have devoured them.

I'm hoping to do what Tbird suggest & see if there's anything in the stores/nurseries to fill in. There should be plenty of late flowering plants in pots & I've noticed that you can buy pansies at almost all times of the year nowadays.

I've seen you mention that you live in Derby (me too). If you drive this is a great place for plants.
no, before you ask, neither I nor family work there, :o)