Len Brennan

It's sooty mould caused by Rhododendron cushion scale. If you look on the underside of the leaves you'll see small white clumps which are the scale insects covered with a protective coating. As they grow they secrete 'honeydew' like aphids and that causes the black mould on the leaves below.

It's tremendously difficult to get rid of especially if it's widespread. You could try spraying with soft soap but it won't get rid of it completely. Systemic insecticides seem to be the only real control method.

Have a look here Cushion scale / RHS Gardening Advice

I guess until Mike replies we'll have to agree to differ

If I could get Aspen within 50 miles of where I am then I would give it a try; but I can't, so I won't, simple as that.

My local dealer won't stock it because he can't risk tying up a lot of money on a pallet load he might not sell and if he buys any less than a pallet and there's no profit in it for him.

The bottom line I'm afraid is that it's just too expensive

Rheum palmatum?

Great idea! What about a category for maximum revs? Gotta give the old 242xp a chance of winning a round

Aka the Chilean Potato Tree

iPhone 3GS. Apart from tiny cracks in the back case (replaced under warranty now going again) it's been the best phone I've had by a mile. Will replace it with an iPhone 5 when my contract runs out and stick this one on eBay.

I could have had the day off but I'm going to work it and take Tuesday off instead. Really not interested at all.

Ibuki, Pocket Boy and the pole saw one with the name I can't remember! All have different uses so impossible to choose a favourite.

I use the left handed Felcos with the rotating handle. I wouldn't dream of using anything else.

It's amazing how many people think ivy is poisonous. American poison ivy is a completely different thing. Our ivy is fine to burn.

That's a lovely bit of work, should last a few years too.

Does that mean you're now making £60 an hour??

I like that kind of thing, very much along the lines of the sadly departed Tim Stead.

The Workshop of Tim Stead

Current price from the guy up the road is £60 for a Navara load of not very well seasoned hardwood logs.

Cooper Pegler sparayers are a bit like Land Rover Defenders, you get the feeling that the people responsible for designing them have never actually used one for more than about two minutes.

That's very scary. I wonder why she was filming herself driving down a dual carriageway?

I'm sure this is a good cause and good on you for raising money but Japan is the third richest nation on earth, I think they should be able to look after their own citizens without any help from me.

Conker!

Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra'. The yellow ones in the background are F i ' Lutea'.

The green hook thing mentioned earlier is the O-Tom tick remover. Costs a couple of quid and you get two sizes in the pack. I never seem to get ticks myself but it works a treat on my dogs.

Timbrel is good for killing broadleaves and leaving the grass. Or cut them right back to ground level and spot spray the regrowth with Roundup.

I concur.

 

My first car was a petrol series 3 back in 1991. I'm guessing they've changed a little.

 

Not so as you'd notice, no

I wasn't totally serious about the bus thing but anyone who thinks it's clever to ride through red lights (and I'm sure after this little display there will be dozens of copy cats who think they are above the law) really needs to grow up.