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Talkback: Weeds and wildlife

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
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Unfortunately certain wild animals are not 'transient' and are very much here to stay if you have a garden of tasty plants or attempt to feed birds. Rabbits are my main nuisance animal for eating plants, closely followed by squirrels on the bird feeders. Then there are wood pigeons, mice and bank voles and magpies. Even the blackbirds root around my newly seeded vegetable bed for worms. All permanent residents. This is before the slugs and snails get going on the plants.

As for 'weeds', I let most plants grow where they can as they must be rabbit resistant. We have a lot of cuckoo flower out at the moment with associated transient orange tip butterflies laying eggs. Weeds are plants that swamp others whether cultivated or accidental eg Cleavers is a weed (accidental), as is also the planted Fox and Cubs (big mistake)

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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Richard - thank you. Sometimes the sight of a 'weed' growing in a wall or crack somewhere is the only thing that gets me through the day, knowing that, when we're finally extinct or have ruined the world to the point of not being able to survive in it, the plants will grow back and re-colonize the Earth, covering up the mess we've made.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have a problem with vines coming through my lawn what can i do
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    How do I deter cats from my garden? Apart from digging up my boarders they keep leaving me piles of very smelly cat 'poo'!!!! Quite annoying to say the least...
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    How do I get rid of grass in my garden without killing my fruits & veggies?..Please Help
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I wouldn't mind a few weeds but because people in our area don't dig them out I am plagued with every type a continual headache
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have a small yard at the back of my house which I fill with as many containers and pots that I can afford, the end closest to the house is shady and can be damp. I have both maidenhair spleenwort and hart's-tongue fern growing on the wall and they are beautiful, they are a joy to me every time I open the back door. I love ferns and have often considered buying some to put in pots at this end of the yard, but it seems a bit daft when they grow there so beautifully for free!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Well what a fun bunch, I have a number of wildflowers in my garden with no problems I would like to know more about what wildflowers are safe to use in a garden, I mean that will not take over in a few years, plants spread wild or other wise so I don't mind having to take action now and again.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have a plant which I would really like to know what it is, as everyone I've asked can't give me an answer, is it possible if I send you a photo you would be able to help?? Not sure if you do this service! With Regards Mrs M Lawrence
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Every plant has its place, isn't that the case? I leave some weeds to grow around the edge of my allotment as lots of insects are attracted to them. This in turn means that they also visit my veg patch and feed on other nuisance insects and pollinate my plants. Fantastic! Some of the 'weed' flowers are very pretty and thistles are incredibly grand when they get big!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We've got hart's tongue fern growing at the top of our garden wall having self sown itself. The original plant is 10 metres away.
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