Quote from tommyrot on 17th May 2024, 7:50 pm

Dear veterans,

I envy you. I feel like a mountaineer at the bottom of Ben Nevis with no climbing experience any without climbing gear. I've dreaded making this steady ascent for years, but necessity demands that I begin to make inroads. And it starts with demystifying some terms that I see everywhere. Could you please help me understand them?

(1) May need some shelter in cold wet winters. (Example: Geranium 'Jean Armour’)
How does one achieve this when the plant is an exposed flower bed in the middle of a garden? (Temporarily erect some sort of canopy/rain cover?)

(2) Well-drained soil
What is well-drained soil? How to tell if soil is well-drained? What are the steps to drain soil? 
How does one ensure soil remains well-drained in the UK’s near-constant rain?

(3) Perennial, Semi-perennial, Evergreen
I’ve read contrasting definitions and the most sense I can make is that annuals die every year, perennials live for several years, and evergreen remain green throughout the year. What is the best strategy for someone wanting to garden as infrequently as possible? By choosing plants with similar lifespans and requirements, presumably this would mean that when it comes time to prune or divide them, it’s infrequent and I could do the whole lot. Once a year.)

(4) Partial Shade
How does one ensuring partial shade for open flower beds e.g. some canopy? Or is it best to plant these near fences or in nooks?

(5) Propagate by division
What is this? Why do it? How to do it?

(6) Pruning
I understand this to mean trimming away overgrown/unhealthy parts of plants. Is there a standard method of pruning, or does one have to employ different methods for different plants?

(7) Pest control
My garden is a paradise for slugs. How does one keep these critters off?

 

Thank you so much in advance.