What Jobs Are We Doing In The Garden Today 2019

I have two vars of Philadelphus, Virginal and Bel Etoile. Philadelphus are from the Hydrangeacae family. Virginal is a double flowered form and Belle Etoile is a singe. The scent of the latter always reminds me of Germalene ointment.
Philadelphus can prove to be a fast grower. When it comes to pruning, always remember flowers are produced on the previous years growth. Once established most Philadelphus will romp away. Not only in height but also down at ground level. Probably the center, original plant will last for ages. From the roots new clumps will grow. Here you have the chance to increase your stock. Roit division is simple. Simply split and divide the root mass by cutting through with a spade. Then plant the new plants.

 

Been putting this off but needed to get started so I've broke up all the concrete I got up last year when I cut down a tree and moved it ready for dumping, cleared off the slabbed area i was going to jetwash it but it was raining on and off so I left it, probably need 5 or 6 slabs to fill in gaps where climbers were planted, when I've done that I can work out where to put the posts for the new pergola that's going up, I was a bit surprised when I looked at the tree stump and saw new shoots emerging! Going to be an awful lot of roots to be dug/cut out yet I think, the whole of the back garden just looks a mess at the minute.

 

Very cold wind today and I'm still recovering from a cold ( lasted 5 days so far and I'm still not better ), so didn't do much gardening. Pulled out a few weeds around pond area, added some rotted manure to the planting beds by the pond and around Mr Woos Rose and shovelled more soil away from the new pond excavation.

@Verdun I do have a spot in mind for the Weigela and Philadelphus but it's not ready and it's not going to be ready for some time. Lots of other garden stuff and non garden stuff to catch up on first. I think both will have to stay in the pots for awhile. They are quite small anyway at the moment.

 

Yes, they will be fine Lucius
Mazambo, it will all be worth it.....seeing the end result will keep you going
I feel slightly guilty with all this hard work folks are doing.....no gardening for me today but it’s going to be pretty routine for me over the next few weeks

 

It's really funny weather presently. I played golf in the sunshine yesterday morning. Then on the way home after lunch, it chucked it down, really heavy rain that turned to hail. Then it stopped and the sun came out again.
Fortunately, there's not really anything I need to do in the garden today, as although it's sunny now, it'll rain later and more is forecast for tomorrow, so I won't be in the garden. I'll probably give golf a miss too.
Still, plenty of other hobbies to occupy my time.

 

Nipped out to get some slabs, not the same as the old ones but similar, been cutting them to fit the gaps would have liked to cement them in but 4 or 5 days of rain forecast so I'll hang on for the minute.

 

Yesterday I got round to clearing the bracken - again. Last year I tried to kill it but it grew straight through the SBK I used on recommendation, so this year when it re-grows I'll use Round-up. Today I had a couple of hours burning what I'd raked off.

 

Gardening research today...rather than actual gardening. I paid a visit to the SF Conservatory of Flowers (as recommended by @shiney ) as it was pouring down with rain again.

Some lovely plants to be seen. It was very much like the glasshouse at Kew.

 

Back from the beach......some sun, some heavy showers.
Nico was white when we started but he could not resist a muddy pool
Ah well! He enjoyed himself

Edit....just received colocasia black coral. Will pot up ASAP. Also cosmos Flamingo, a new variety to me. Apparently a pink flowered chocolate cosmos.
Quite excited about the colocasia.....not sure whether to team with white thalictrum, philadelphus aureus, canna Pretoria or Tropicana Gold!!??

 

Yesterday was sunny but still cold wind. So, two winter weight fleeces, hat and even a scarf - plus pack of cough sweets and tissues . Gave my ornamental grasses a haircut and stuffed the clippings into the log piles for the birds to use if they need it. Moved more soil around to begin ' shaping ' planting are by new pond. Removed some gravel from around existing pond and back filled with soil/compost before planting some red campions and two pieces of turf with wild achillea, daisies and dandelions in them. Netted the pond to remove blanket weed.

Today has been all day. The new pond is full of water, won't need a liner now . Took these pics yesterday.

@Verdun Nico , bless him, he looks very pleased with himself.

 

You’ve been busy Lucius despite your rain....put me to shame I should be able to get into the garden tomorrow though and it looks like being mainly dry
Ha ha, whatever Nico does he can do no wrong....and he knows it.

 

Is original RoundUp still available there, Sheal? The glyphosate version was withdrawn from sale here in January, but I see that the retailers are marketing a similar-looking product. If it's anything like the other weedkiller replacements based on pelargonic acid, don't waste your money!! One of the biggest scams ever perpetrated.

 

90!!....gosh you've been busy @wiseowl !!!!
Puts me to shame ,had a potter, came in for a coffee , had another potter but collected the mail from the box this time . Now just having a cup of tea before having a potter in the greenhouse!!!! It's hard making yourself busy......without actually doing anything

Right... I am off to DO something now.....will report when done