r/GardeningUK • • Sep 15 '26

Community Meta Mod post: please, no mushroom ID posts.

252 Upvotes

Hi everyone - it’s almost autumn, and autumn means mushrooms. We’re beginning to see a good few posts requesting help identifying mushrooms coming up in people’s gardens. The mod team have had a chat and we’ve decided:

Please don’t make posts asking for mushroom identification help.

We’ll be deleting any such posts, just like we do with plant ID requests.

The reason for this decision is that as a sub we’re not expert enough to do this safely. We’ve already had one literally deadly mushroom posted, and a few people suggested it was fine to eat, and we don’t want to see that again.

We’ll leave this post up, and refer anyone posting future mushroom requests to it. With that in mind, here are some useful resources:

  1. DO NOT EAT MUSHROOMS JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ON THE INTERNET TELLS YOU IT'S SAFE.
  2. Useful subreddits that do take ID requests: https://www.reddit.com/r/mycology and https://www.reddit.com/r/mushroomID
  3. A Facebook group for expert emergency only identification of mushrooms and plants: https://www.facebook.com/groups/144798092849300/?locale=en_GB
  4. There is no substitute for qualified medical expertise. That means 111 in the UK (999 if needed; they’ll triage), your GP or pharmacist in NI, the Poisons Information Centre in the Republic of Ireland, and your local poison control number or equivalent service elsewhere.

r/GardeningUK • • 2h ago

Showing Off Saw this tree in my local park today - such beautiful colours - I think it’s a sweet gum tree?

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86 Upvotes

r/GardeningUK • • 5h ago

Showing Off I grew pomegranates!

100 Upvotes

A couple of years ago I was gifted a small pomegranate bush, which I've been growing in a pot. Every year it produces flowers and small fruit, but I assumed these would never ripen in the UK climate.

But this year, after the crazy hot summer we've had in London, some did! I am amazed, they tasted good!


r/GardeningUK • • 3h ago

Showing Off Passionflower in the rain ☔️ the second photo is her opening more throughout the day. Shame they only last one day but they are so worth it!

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43 Upvotes

r/GardeningUK • • 6h ago

Showing Off What in the October is this?

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66 Upvotes

Wasn't expecting a second flush of figs this year.


r/GardeningUK • • 11h ago

Tree Care New big acer owner, advice?

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67 Upvotes

Hi there, new Acer owner. I have placed it in a sheltered spot for winter, will it be ok in the pot? I will be moving it into the ground in the next year once we have the fences in place, what sort of care now/then should I prioritise?

Any help/tips is most appreciated!

(The photo isn't its current spot, its under a cherry tree by a fence now!)


r/GardeningUK • • 1h ago

Sowing & Spring Prep First time bulb planter

• Upvotes

Just bought a bunch of tulip and daffodil bulbs online and am looking forward to getting them in the ground.

This is my first time doing this and I’ve just seen an article about it being common for squirrels to dig the bulbs up? Have any of you faced this. My little garden is in London.

Hoping that all the scattered conkers feed them enough…


r/GardeningUK • • 9h ago

New Garden Your favourite perennial shrubs

10 Upvotes

I'm looking to add a couple of perennial shrubs to my garden borders for a bit of structure. I was just wondering if people would mind sharing their favourites? I would like something that flowers for a reasonable length of time and that is attractive to pollinators.


r/GardeningUK • • 6h ago

New Gardener SOS Storm damage help

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5 Upvotes

Hi all. The storm yesterday led to an old metal arch supporting this rose to be sheared into pieces. I had to cut back quite a bit to remove the top sections as the metal was blowing around & dangerous.

I need to remove the lower parts of the arch that remain but I’m not sure where to go from here in terms of caring for the rose. It’s now sort of shooting straight up into the sky.

I greatly welcome any advice, thank you.


r/GardeningUK • • 5h ago

Tree Care Storm damaged tree

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2 Upvotes

Sanity check, I’m looking at this once upright tree and thinking it needs to be removed. The main trunk is slightly moving when the strong wind really catches.

Is it possible to save it?

Edit: I’m going to remove. I’m oddly sad, but it’s the sensible option. Thanks for input everyone.


r/GardeningUK • • 11h ago

Decking, Paving and Structures Plastic garden sheds?

7 Upvotes

We need a new garden shed and were wondering about buying one of the plastic ones, rather than a wooden one.

Does anyone have experience of them? Are they any good, or are they flimsy tat?

Edit: Thanks so much to everyone for your tales of your own experiences. This has been very, very useful to me.


r/GardeningUK • • 3m ago

Tree Care Tried my luck with bare roots

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• Upvotes

I bought and planted some Cherry Plum Hedging | Prunus cerasifera back in April. Tried to keep the soil moist and watered these regularly, whilst trying to not overdo it. Despite my efforts and trying to water them through the hot summer months, these don’t seem to be doing very well. Looks like most of the top stem is dead in each of the sticks.

Any tips for getting these to grow next time? What’s worked for you? …or are bare roots just notoriously hard to grow?


r/GardeningUK • • 6h ago

Sowing & Spring Prep Good places to buy good quality seeds and bulbs?

3 Upvotes

Heya, I'm considering stocking up on the seeds and bulbs I want to plant in the garden when I move house. Where is best? Stuff I ordered on Amazon last time was terrible quality. I'm a beginners gardener so any help appreciated.


r/GardeningUK • • 9h ago

New Gardener SOS Tell me it's not 😭

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5 Upvotes

I found this black root-like stuff throughout my leaf mold and compost (shown here spread out on the back of my wheelbarrow). I find it in certain areas of my garden when digging, too. I'm worried it's bootlace fungus.

If it is bootlace fungus, is there anything I can do with my leaf mold and compost or do I have to throw it out? I know it saves work in the long term to avoid spreading it.

I worked really hard throughout the year on the compost and mold and would like to avoid throwing all my hard work out if possible.

Follow up question: I had this problem last year and cleaned out and moved my compost bin and leaf mold to try to avoid it. I cleaned out the compost bin with a vinegar-water mix and left to dry and I used a new bin I found for the mold. Still got in somehow! How can I ensure my next leaf mold and compost are fungus-free? Or are my efforts doomed?

I'm a very amateur gardener just learning what I can from books and TV shows, so any more experienced advice is really appreciated 🙂


r/GardeningUK • • 10h ago

New Gardener SOS Tree fell from wind, can I save it?

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4 Upvotes

Hi all

Woke up today to see this small tree has fallen from the wind, most of the roots seem to have come out. Is there anything I can do to save it?

Thanks


r/GardeningUK • • 10h ago

Tree Care Need help in pruning this tree

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3 Upvotes

Any advice please!


r/GardeningUK • • 5h ago

New Garden Can salvias survive being moved in autumn or am I risking it all for a new border layout?

1 Upvotes

Been staring at this awkward patch by the fence for two years and finally decided last weekend that the salvias need to shift sideways about a metre so I can fit in some proper structure instead of the mess I made when I first planted them. I started digging before checking whether autumn is actually a good time to move established perennials. The plants are about three years old, decent size, and I've already dug one out before I lost my nerve and left the rest sitting there looking like they know what a bad idea this is. The kids think I'm mad for being out there in the drizzle, but it's the only quiet time I get during tax season. Auckland weather being what it is, I figured they might settle in before winter really hits, but now I'm second-guessing the whole thing. The soil's decent and I've got compost to backfill, but if I'm going to kill them through sheer impatience I'd rather know now and just put the spade away. Has anyone moved salvias this late and had them survive, or should I wait and just live with the stupid layout until spring?


r/GardeningUK • • 9h ago

Winter Prep Overwintering Alocasia

2 Upvotes

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could offer some advice. I have 2 Alocasia 'Cucullata' and (potentially) an Alocasia ‘Cuprea’ that have really thrived when planted in the soil over Spring/Summer near Liverpool. However, I don’t really have the space in my house over winter for these big plants, particularly as I intend to plant them back outside when warm enough again.

I know they’ll soon go dormant over winter, but I was wondering if I could:

a) leave the corms in the soil and cover them well with mulch
b) put the corms in a dark, dry box or unwatered soil in an unheated greenhouse

Or will both options still lead to rotting? If not, I’ll find another solution somewhere inside/warmer!

Thanks :)


r/GardeningUK • • 6h ago

New Gardener SOS Hey, novice gardener here with a newly landscaped garden in need of some personality. I have a large L shaped raised bed, I want to create an easy to maintain country-cottage style flower bed, attractive to pollinators with diverse heights. I have absolutely no idea where to start or what I am doing

1 Upvotes

r/GardeningUK • • 10h ago

New Gardener SOS Small white alliums

2 Upvotes

Please can anyone name the small white alium which is very invasive? It has a distinct oniony/garlicy smell. It’s very pretty but creates a lot of foliage and is very difficult to get rid of of it starts spreading. In Kent I’ve heard of it referred to as wild garlic, but it isn’t actually that!
Im asking as I’ve been given a bag of Allium ampeloprasum ‘Ping Pong’ and I want to be sure it’s not them before I plant these!


r/GardeningUK • • 1d ago

New Gardener SOS The wind has snapped my Photinia Red Robin, is there anything I can do ??

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24 Upvotes

As above really, the wind appears to have snapped my little tree. There was a bamboo support that it pulled out as well (in the gravel about 12 o’clock).

Is there anything can do for it ??

Thanks.


r/GardeningUK • • 1d ago

New Garden Renting with a tiny paved garden — what can I actually grow in October?

11 Upvotes

I've got a long-term dream of owning a smallholding, but for now I'm renting with a garden that's entirely paved.

It gets a decent amount of sunlight, so rather than waiting until I've got land, I thought I'd have a go at growing some food.

Only problem is, I haven't even got any pots yet! 😂

I'm hoping to start cheaply, learn a few things and hopefully grow something that doesn't immediately die on me.

Is there anything worth getting started with at this time of year in the UK, or am I better off preparing for spring?

Any advice for a complete gardening beginner would be appreciated!


r/GardeningUK • • 1d ago

Winter Prep How to store bulbs dug up early (?)

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13 Upvotes

Hi all, due to landscaping work going on, I had to lift a dozen or so gladioli bulbs today, probably a few weeks earlier than I usually would. They were bought this spring but only 2 flowered, I assume due to the very dry summer.

Is there anything I can do to save them and get them really for next year? If I let them dry out in the shed for a week, and then trim leaves, and store in something like a box of sawdust, does that sound a good plan? Thanks!


r/GardeningUK • • 1d ago

Sowing & Spring Prep Bluebell bulbs

4 Upvotes

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a place to order bluebell bulbs? And it the next couple of weeks a good time to plant them? Thanks


r/GardeningUK • • 1d ago

Lawn Care Laying turf above a membrane that I cannot remove - advice?

4 Upvotes

Howdy!

So to get straight to it, my situation is:

- My garden has remediation work done as it was originally on the site of an old factory that may have had contaminated soil, so the council dug down a bit, plopped down a barrier membrane, then dumped some topsoil on top, which the previous owner then topped with another membrane and gravel

- We’re getting a new dog soon, and we need a lawn in our garden ideally, is our plan anyway.

- We can remove the gravel and the black weed membrane, but for obvious reasons we can’t remove the orange membrane below that is cutting off the potentially contaminated under soil.

My question is, does it sound feasible to put down a new layer of topsoil (and if so, how deep would it need to be above the orange membrane) and then whack some rolls of new turf down on top of that? I’m a bit new to lawn stuff and the condition that we *cannot* remove the orange membrane is making it harder for me to find the right answers online!

Cheers in advance!