Hydey's Garden Corner - Your Problems Solved With A Smile

[finbar]

This thread is by way of tribute to our Oz friend, Hydey. Yesterday and last night, he diagnosed Alexander's Horse's lawn problem - complete and utter neglect; and my problem with my bay tree - nature being the duplicitous bastard it can be.

Now, Hydey is currently away from his computer. He is, in fact, 45 minutes into a 10 hour drive back to Melbourne. I know I speak for him, though, when I invite anyone and everyone with any sort of garden problem to seek his advice.

Come on, guys, I want Hydey to arrive home totally buggered after the 10 hour drive to boot up his computer to find dozens of really challenging gardening problems waiting for him.

In fact, I'll kick things off. I don't why I didn't ask him this before he climbed into the ute with the delightful Mrs Hydey, but that's another matter. Maybe I didn't care then. I do now.

Hydey - How much sunlight does an azalea need? Should it be direct or filtered? And how much water? And how much, if any, food? I ask this because, last season, I tended my azaleas with great care. They flowered reasonably well. This season, I completely forgot about them. They blossomed like buggery.

Why?

[Winston]

*raises hand*

I have a question. finbar, did you just rate your own thread who has zero replies at 5 stars??

That's so... un-gardenerlike.

[Jon Miller]

my plants are all dying

please help me

Jon Miller

[finbar]

Originally posted by Winston
*raises hand*

I have a question. finbar, did you just rate your own thread who has zero replies at 5 stars??

That's so... un-gardenerlike.

Listen, Winston, this forum is a jungle and it's every aspidistra for him or herself. Note that, unlike your post, mine is On Topic. :

[finbar]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
my plants are all dying

please help me

Jon Miller

Sorry, JM, Hydey might be known as Doctor Garden, but I suspect he might need a bit more information. By which I mean, he's no mindreader. Could you please re-post with some details?

[Loif]

I once killed a small cactus. What did I do wrong?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Loif
I once killed a small cactus. What did I do wrong?

I say again - Hydey is not a mindreader! He needs more information. For goodness sake, Loif, maybe you backed your car over the cactus. In which case, asking Hydey why it died is just a clear case of you attempting to assuage guilt.

Please note that I'm only filling in for Hydey while he's making the 10-hour drive back to Melbourne. He now has about 8 1/2 hours to go. I hope my keyboard holds out.

[Jon Miller]

well the plants are right in front of my house

it is just one area

all the others are fine

Jon Miller

[Makeo]

1jeez finbar you must be some kind of cook. either that or horse and hydey are both carrying a torch for you

[finbar]

Originally posted by Makeo
1jeez finbar you must be some kind of cook. either that or horse and hydey are both carrying a torch for you

Bit of both.

Now, come on, Makeo, you must have run into some problems with alpine plants during your time in the powdery white stuff. Feel free to consult Hydey.

I would assume, of course, that those trees whacked into by Sonny Bono and that Kennedy relative are beyond even Hydey's help.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
well the plants are right in front of my house

it is just one area

all the others are fine

Jon Miller

Jeez, I feel like Hydey's receptionist, but anyway ...

When you say plants - are we talking trees? Shrubs? Flowers? It would really help Hydey if you could actually identify the species. Beyond that - Is the problem area any different to the other troublefree areas? By which I mean, do they get the same amount of sunlight? Is the soil basically the same? Same amount of water?

Not that I would ever presume to speak for Hydey - I lack even a zillionth of his knowledge and experience, after all - but trees/shrubs/flowers can prefer all sorts of different conditions. Some, for example, prefer full sun, while some can't cope with it.

What I'm saying, JM, is that Hydey will need some details.

[finbar]

Hydey's Garden Corner Bulletin

Hydey has arrived home safely after his 10-hour drive. He's at his computer. He's checking his email. He will shortly be in attendance to answer your questions.

Jon Miller? Hurry up with your details?

[Hydey]

Thanks finbar , this is just what I need after the drive.

Azaleas like filtered sun and well drained soil , feed them with azalea food after they flower and also give them a light prune at the same time . If you can't be stuffed buying azalea food use citrus food , it is almost the same.

[Hydey]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
my plants are all dying

please help me

Jon Miller

Stop killing them with poison.

[Hydey]

Originally posted by Loif
I once killed a small cactus. What did I do wrong?

Probably over watered it