A Members' Posts

Free: Cardboard boxes (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 15d - ** Update ** rest of boxes now promised *** Several of these have gone but still have 3 quite big, strong ones left ** Have several strong cardboard boxes. Would be suitable for storage or if you are moving house etc. Checkout the 2 photos to see if useful to you.

Free: Bubble wrap (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 15d - Have a roll of quite strong bubble wrap if useful to anyone.

Free: Rhubarb Plants (Loughborough LE11) Promised 45d - Young plants just starting to grow. They like a sunny spot. They advise not to harvest any stalks in the first year so the plant can get established and to always leave a third of the stalks after that, but I'll leave that up to your will power!!! They disappear in winter and grow again in spring. It's good to spread some mulch around them just before winter starts but not over the crown itself which could rot if you do that. Mine was 3 years old last year and the leaves grew to 2 feet across and the plant was 6 feet wide. So think about that when you are deciding where to plant!!

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Free: Young Forsythia Garden Plants (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 45d - 2 very young plants, one photo shows the one just sprouting a few leaves. The second photo shows one a little more advanced with a more leaves. They need to be planted as soon as possible so they can get established before any hot weather, if we get any! I can of course gift them to separate people. They produce yellow flowers in spring around this time and you'll have probably seen loads around in flower. These probably won't flower this year as they are so young but will flower a little next year and more as they grow bigger. They like a sunny spot. They lose their leaves in winter. Usually you prune large varieties directly after flowering as they flower on the previous year's growth but these won't need pruning for a while. I believe some large varieties can grow up to to 10 ft tall if you want but you can keep them small with regular trimming.

Free: Halogen bulb for outside light (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 80d - Found this bulb. I must have bought 2 last time I needed a new bulb. I don't need it any more as changed to a different light. It's 12 cm long. The 2nd and 3rd photos show the details on the back of the card.

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Free: Spider Plants indoor plants (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 153d - I have numerous Spider plants. They are almost impossible to kill so I have loads!!!! I have little ones, large ones, ones with trailing babies and ones without. You could Google how to look after them. The only thing I would say is that mine are in a greenhouse which is heated when temps drop at night at this time of year, so you may want to repot in fresh soil when you bring into your house to avoid any little passengers. I can do a brief check before I give you the plant and I do have a little bit of soil left over from summer so could repot a few once you've chosen the plant if you have no garden to do the repotting.

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Free: Dracaena Plants (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 160d - I have 3 Dracaena house plants, if anyone would like one. Quite easy to look after. They are all supermarket rescues about to be thrown out, but are doing well. Some care instructions below, but you can Google for more: Dracaena benefit from bright, indirect light. If given too much sun, leaves are at risk of scorch. It's a good idea to grow them in a bathroom or kitchen for humidity. Dragon plants prefer underwatering to overwatering, so let the top few centimetres of soil dry out – test with your finger – before watering again. They can grow at temps between 28 and 32C but don't let temps drop below 15C.

Free: Scoot Fox Deterrant (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 160d - I bought this as had a fox coming round and I was worried about my cat at the time who was elderly and deaf. In the end I didn't use it as the fox stopped coming round anyway and my cat passed away eventually. I have 4 boxes with 2 sachets in each. The best before date is June 23 but may still be worth a go.

Free: Hedgehog Food (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 175d - Packet of hedgehog food. Mine seem to have stopped coming. Not seen for ages. If anyone still has any coming round or can deliver to Barrow Hedgehog Rescue then feel free to pick up from me.

Free: Cardboard boxes (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 175d - I have 5 quite large and strong cardboard boxes, see the 5 photos, if any use to anyone. Only thing is they need to be gone by end of this week end if possible as I'm getting the room decorated that they are in!

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Free: Dracaena plant number 2 (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 180d - This is the second Dracaena plant I have to freegle. This one is a rescue from the local supermarket that was about to die as it was bone dry and had little soil. I've repotted it and given a good watering. The danger with these rescues is that I then over water them and they rot! Hopefully this is looking fine but don't water again until top of soil is dry. Dracaena like bright but indirect light. Only freegling as I don't really have room for it.

Free: Dracaena plant (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 180d - This is actually a cutting off the parent plant that I took because the parent plant was a bit leggy. I did it last year so I know it has taken and rooted. I am just having the room decorated so need to move my plants and don't really have room as the parent plant is quite big. Dracaena plants like bright indirect light and only water when the top of the soil is dry.

Free: Ceramic Plant Pots (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 181d - I have 5 pots, no drainage holes, you would need to pop your plants in a pot inside these. Not a bad size, about 12 cm across the top and 13cm depth.

Free: Peruvian lilly also called Alstroemeria (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 213d - I got this plant free a few months ago as it was dying and the shop didn't know what it was! I thought it had finished for the summer and just repotted it in good compost and left it outside. It has grown well and flowered again! I believe you can put them in the ground but they lose their leaves over winter and I believe they need mulching to survive winter, that means covering the area with mulch such as more compost, straw, composted bark etc. You don't cover the top/crown of the plant as it could rot but leave a space between the crown and the mulch. Or you could keep it in a pot but put somewhere sheltered for winter. I believe they are vulnerable to slugs so you would need to protect with wool or wool pellets. But you can look up how to care for it on Google of course! I don't really have much space for it, I only collected it because I felt sorry for it! If anyone is interested let me know asap. Unfortunately it would have ho be collected today as I am away tomorrow.

Free: Bird bath on a stand (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 219d - The photo is from a website but I think it will be like the one I have. Mine is still boxed to make it easier for you to carry. Got it free as I bought a lot of bird food. But I already have several bird baths and one on a stand, so don't need this. Not sure if it's metal or plastic. If anyone would like it, let me know.

Free: Food Flasks (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 296d - * Update* Now just 2 flasks left. The one on far right of photo with spoon had gone. 3 food flasks, see photos. One comes with its own spoon that fits into the lid, see 2nd photo. All different sizes. I don't work full time now so have no need for them.

Free: Dracaena indoor plant (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 298d - These are small young dracaena. Pretty easy to look after, I have found. I have one already which has grown nicely. Below is some text from the RHS website in how to look after one, but you can of course Google for more details: Light: Filtered indoor light (such as through a sheer curtain in front of a sunny window) or a semi-shade spot is an ideal location. Never place a dracaena plant in direct sun, as the rays will scorch its foliage. Water: Dracaena require less water than most indoor plants. Keep them hydrated by misting the leaves with water and keeping the soil lightly misted (never soggy) as well with good drainage. Always allow the top soil to dry out before watering. Do not overwater, as it may cause root rot.

Free: Drawers (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 300d - Brown, set of 5 drawers. I'm having fitted cupboards installed so this needs to go. There are some marks on top right, not sure what from, see 2nd photo. The bottom draw seems to stick a bit but maybe someone handy can fix. I've just had all sorts of miscellaneous household stuff in it, from tea towels to batteries and light bulbs! I've no car unfortunately so can't deliver. Probably would need 2 people to move it. 27.5 inches / 69 cm wide 13.5 inches / 34 cm deep 37 inches / 94 cm high

Free: Bag for growing veg (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 303d - Black plastic with carrying handles. I got 2 in a pack, only needed 1. First picture shows the one I have kept in use growing potatoes, (not included!!). The second picture shows what it is like unused. Third picture shows the drainage holes at the bottom.

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Free: Hypericum (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 303d - I lost the label to this but 99% sure it is Hypericum, known as St Johns Wort. Grows in the ground. Can grow into a large bush. Has yellow flowers about now. The RHS site says "A fast-growing, spreading ground cover shrub with evergreen to semi-evergreen long, oval-shaped dark green leaves. Bright yellow, five petalled flowers bloom throughout summer and into autumn. Height is 60cm with a spread of 1.2m or more. The red berries turn black in autumn."

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Free: Cotoneaster (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 303d - A rescue plant. There are tall bushy types and smaller low growing types. Not sure which one this is, sorry. They have flowers in spring and berries in autumn. Like a sunny spot but tolerate part shade. This one is very slow growing so might be the smaller low growing type. Or maybe it just needs to go in the ground now, or the pot soil might be too moist for it. They like well-drained soils. They dislike heavy, moist ground or earth overlaid with woodchip, and they relish any soil with excellent drainage: from chalk to sand.

Free: Rhododendron (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 303d - Evergreen shrub. Needs to be in the ground, though you could keep this in its pot a little longer probably as still small. You'll need to keep the soil moist over summer, hopefully no.more heat waves. Needs acidic soil, so you will need to know what you have got. Needs part shade or shade. This is a rescue plant. It hadn't been watered in the shop. I repotted it but the leaves still all dropped off. I thought it was dead and just left it. But after a month it started to grow again! You can see the growth over 11 days between the 2 photos. So hopefully will give you flowers next spring.

Free: Rhubarb Plant (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 303d - Think it is Victoria type. I've knocked a shoot off twice and so has the squirrel 🐿️ so the sooner it is rehomed the better I think. Grown back well each time, you can see the difference between the 2 photos which shows its growth over 11 days, so definitely healthy. Needs planting in the ground. Should have gone in before May really but just haven't had time to freegle it. Should be ok as long as you keep the soil moist over summer though. Needs sunny spot and lots of space. My other one after 3 years has leaves 2 feet wide and the plants is about 6 foot across!!! It will lose its leaves in autumn/winter and you can put some mulch around the crown. They say not to harvest in the first year, so rhubarb demands patience!

Free: Cabinet (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 303d - Brown cabinet, 2 doors at front, see the 2 photos. Shelf inside. Was used to keep a dinner set and cooking pans in. I'm having the room redone and fitted cupboards installed, so this needs to go unfortunately. I've no car I'm afraid so can't deliver. I can't move it myself so I think it would take 2 people to move it. 17.5 inches / 44.5 cm deep 35.75 inches / 91 cm wide 29.75 inches / 76 cm High

Free: Rose Plant (Loughborough LE11) Expired 1y - Rosa Mina Polyantha Rose. Very young plant at the moment. Will produce Red flowers though may not flower this year as so young. Can grow eventually to a height of 60 cm (about 2 feet). Prune in March to April though this is so young it will not need pruning this year or maybe not next year either. They normally flower June to October. Hardy. Like sunny spot. It has been outside for a couple of weeks, so hardened off, though has been in a sheltered spot near my back door. But I would say you could plant in the ground now or it will be ok for a bit longer in the pot. Sorry for short notice but will need to be collected before this Saturday (8th April).

Free: Buddleia “Pink Delight” plant (Loughborough LE11) Expired 1y - This is a very young small plant but they can grow up to 2.5m – 4m, (8ft – 13 ft) in height and spread if you wanted. Usually you prune in March because it flowers on the branches that grow in early summer. But this is young and will do most of its growing from now on anyway. You may not need to prune next year either. They are hardy. Like a sunny spot. They are hard to kill, you see then growing out of walls and on waste ground and you do not usually need to do much with them. However, since this is so young and we are approaching summer I would keep it watered over summer, especially if we have a hot dry spell. Sorry for short notice but will need to be collected before this Saturday (8th April). The flowers attract butterflies and bees and it is known as the butterfly bush, so good if you want to attract wildlife. May not flower very much this year as so young, but it will grow! Although you normally see blue flowered ones this is a PINK one. Sometimes after flowering if you deadhead you get a second showing of flowers, though usually smaller than the first set. It has been outside for a couple of weeks, so hardened off, though has been in a sheltered spot near my back door. But I would say you could plant in the ground now or it will be ok for a bit longer in the pot.

Free: Succulents (Loughborough LE11) Expired 1y - Quite nice leaves. These were rescue plants from a supermarket. One didn't even have a pot, just rolling around the shelf, so no labels! So not sure their name. Would need bright windowsill, fairly warm. Watering perhaps once a month. Maybe a bit more if it got very hot.

Free: Forsythia (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 1y - I have 2 very young plants, see photos. Can go separately. They say to plant in autumn to late winter while plant is dormant, as long as ground is not frozen or very wet. I would perhaps harden them off first for a week, (out in daytime in their pot and in at night), before planting, as they have been inside for a short time. They normally flower March to April but these may be too young to flower this year but should flower well next year. I also wouldn't bother to prune this year but leave them until next year. General Description is below: This shrub is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring. • Position: full sun or partial shade • Soil: any moist, well-drained soil • Rate of growth: fast-growing. Can grow to 2.5 metres high and wide if you let it • Flowering period: March to April • Hardiness: fully hardy This easy to grow shrub is a spectacular sight in early spring, when the bare branches are smothered in masses of golden yellow flowers. It's ideal for adding an early splash of colour, and it will make a handsome, informal hedge or screen. In smaller spaces, the upright stems of this award-winning plant can be tied onto a wall and trained into a fan-shape. Forsythia produces flower buds on current season's growth, so if you want to maximize the flower show, prune shrubs shortly after they finish flowering.

Free: Hypericum (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 1y - Hypericum I have 1 very young Hypericum, see photo. I would perhaps harden it off first for a few more days, (out in daytime in the pot and in at night), before planting, as it has been inside for a short time. General Description is below: The best time to plant Hypericum ‘St. John’s Wort’ is in mid-spring, March to April, or in the autumn, in September or October. However, you can plant at any time of the year, providing the soil is not frozen. The ideal spot for it is probably one with partial shade. They grow to a maximum height of 1m or 1.5m and a similar spread. The green leaves are normally evergreen although in hard winters they can be dropped . It produces numerous bright yellow flowers throughout July and August.

Free: Pipe insulation (Loughborough LE11) Gifted 1y - I have 2 pieces of grey standard length of pipe insulation, (same length as you buy it,) and one off cut, see photo. Also a piece of dark black flexible insulation. I needed a wider type in the end due to a new boiler installation.