What Jobs Are We Doing In The Garden Today 2019

Yesterday, I just did a few chores, like washing down the garage door and the featherboard fence between the drive and the garden and cleaned the car and my golf clubs. I also made a temporary repair to the "coal hole door." That's the cupboard under the stairs, but accessed by a half door in the outside wall. Our house was built in the mid sixties and this cupboard was designed to store coal. But the one owner before us didn't have a coal fire. In fact there's no fireplace or chimney stack in the front room. Just a hot water/central heating back boiler and gas fire in the fireplace in the lounge.
I use this cupboard to store me leccy golf trolley, charger, golf shoes, a vac and cleaning materials for the car. I really need to make a new door for it. But it is secure for now.

I've ordered a new PIR for the garden. We've two on the front of the house, one spot, one coach lamp and one on the corner of the shed at the bottom of the garden. But I'm going to put one on the corner of the garage wall to illuminate the patio. There's a cat that's always trying to catch the birds or the squirrel that use the feeders near the French windows. It comes a few times during the day, but particularly at dusk when the birds are having their last feed. This should put it off and alert us to the fact that its there.

 

I just love your garden! @Doghouse Riley It always looks so ordered, well-clipped and maintained without looking 'clinical'.

Nick

 

A lovely sunny day today, so I

did a poop-scoop
Pegged out another load of washing
Set some some mouse-traps in the garage
Put the feather duvet out for a final dry in the sun
Cut the grass

....now need to head off for a shower!

 

I tackled the "coal hole door" this afternoon.

I went to the local wood yard and saw a half-sheet of half inch ply in the oddments rack, for £15. Just what I needed. Unfortunately I knew it wasn't any good for exterior use. It's the type with different "finishes" i.e Oak, Ash, etc., It'd de-laminate after a while in the open.
I spoke to one of the cutters, using a phrase that always gets you some help.
"I need some technical advice, is this plywood any good for outside use?"

"No mate."

"That's a pity I only need a half sheet of exterior ply."

"Hang on, I'll go and have a look for you."

Looking over the service counter I saw him looking where they keep "the best stuff," (no customers allowed in that area). He dragged out a full sheet and cut it in half and brought it over.

"What size do you want it?"

I gave him the measurements, he cut it and gave me the bit I wanted and the off-cuts, about half as much again as the size I wanted.

I said, "I bet that won't be £15."

"No, but tell them at the counter that it was in the off-cuts and you'll get it a bit cheaper."

He gave me my measurements back I'd written on a bit of paper, he having written "off-cut" on it.

I did, I got charged £10, I reckon it should have been about £30. Plus they usually charge a pound a cut on top of the price of the timber and he'd used two.

The new hinges were dearer!

It's half done, I've screwed and glued reinforcing bits from the off-cuts, across where the hinges are and the bottom, they'll stop it bowing over time, it just needs weather sealing and painting. But I've run some Gorilla wood glue along the four edges, that'll seal them.

The frame isn't in bad conditon being fifty-four years old. But I put another couple of screws through the frame into the wall on the hinges side, for extra strength.

 

Shattered! Started out watering the front garden as we didnt get the afternoon of rain we were promised. Then Went on a tour of local garden centres looking to see if winter flowering clematis were in stock yet-no theyre not. But i left wyvale with 3 half price phormium platts black that I’ve been after. Also got a nice acer for a bargain £5 from homebase.

Then I’ve dug out a massive clump of knifophia and divided it into 7 big pots. Swept and tidied up and just come in because its dark.

 

Started making a hedgehog home for them to hibernate in. Using house bricks and 2 roof tiles for the roof. Then a lot of leaves and twigs, put some straw in for his bed.

 

How are you going to prevent damp from seeping in @Logan ? The interior of the chamber needs to stay dry. Maybe some pond liner or waterproof tarp might work? I've tried using different things as houses in the past, including your idea but could not keep them dry inside so the bedding just ended up a soggy mess - trying to save money . Also tried an upturned belfast sink supported on bricks and covered with pond liner. I only use the purpose built Ecohouses now, which are very good and regularly used all year round. Don't forget to leave some extra bedding close to your house so the hog can add as much as they want. You will need something water tight to put it in. Good luck

 

I haven't put anything on the floor but it's in a place where the rain doesn't reach it at all. Just put some straw in and going to leave extra leaves outside, they keep very dry. A long time ago my mother in law made one for me out of plywood, it didn't last long but i think one went in.I put leaves inside and covered the outside with a old compost bag and made a tunnel with house bricks, then put leaves over it.
Yes I'm trying to save money. I looked on YouTube for some ideas, one was a plastic container with a plastic tunnel but i wouldn't use that what about condensation?
Thanks for the info on bedding i will do that.

 

Abernathe, the had his operation yesterday, which went well. Haven't checked on this morning yet, but he was snuggled on a heat pad last night with extra blanket and looked comfortable. Dave ( vet ), did the surgery for free, I just had to pay for the GA. So kind of him to do that. He's looking after Abernathe when we go on holiday next week too as I have been unable to find anyone to care for him whilst we are away. The practise has changed hands and new owners feel the need to charge for on going treatment of wild animals. I've spent £131 to try and help Abernathe, but can't afford to continue doing this.

Anyway more cutting back of perennial plants and dead heading what's left yesterday afternoon. Finally bagged up hawthorn cuttings from a few weeks ago. Checked two of houses. Both show signs of interest, so added a bit more hay. I bought two more Lavender plants yesterday and planted them in the new Lavender bath. Swept part of the path. Cleaned out a bird bath.

Popped into gift shop in Holyhead yesterday. Another canvas sold . Helen wants replacements and I haven't had time to paint them. She also mentioned my exhibiting at an upcoming event in October. If I do it I need to paint stuff now and will not have time for the garden again.

 

Exciting times @luciusmaximus Glad your art work is going so well-it is lovely!

 

So pleased your artwork is selling well, @luciusmaximus. Makes me realise I should try s little harder to sell my stuff too....

Today is going to be planting bulbs - hubby came home with 2 x 2kg sacks of narcissus bulbs, plus 8 fancy narcissus bulbs, all are doubles, but I think some could be “naturalised”. I also have some allium bulbs I bought a couple of weeks ago. I’d like to get them all in the ground before we go on our holiday.

I also need to sink my chilli plants, pot and all, in the veg bed, so that they have more chance of access to water whilst we are away. We’re only gone for 2 weeks, so I’ll give them w good soak once they’re in, harvest most of the chillies, and they should be fine.

 

Well, that was fun!! Not!
Trying to Naturalise some of the bulbs on the bank patio, above the cowslips. I know that the ground hasn’t been dug for at least 10 years, as it’s been grass all that time, and I suspect that there is some hardcore underneath holding up the patio area. But nevertheless - it was totally solid! I couldn’t get my thin-tined fork to go in more than a couple of centimetres, despite putting my full, not inconsiderable, weight on it. I was afraid that I was going to break another fork. Eventually I managed to find a few relatively soft areas, so I could lift a deep clump of turf, and then plant the bulbs underneath. Everything is so dry!!

Still, the bulbs are planted. Time for a cuppa, and a rest for my bruised hands, before moving the chillies. I have the comforting smell of baking bread to invigorate me!

 

Went to the Dulux centre on the way home from golf to buy the Ultimate Mahogany Woodstain, for the new door for the "coal hole." £59.99 for 2.5ltrs. But it's also for all the other woodwork in the garden. Why is solvent based specialist paint so expensive?

It had rained overnight but the door hadn't got wet. Gave it a first coat. This had dried within about four hours. Second coat will go on tomorrow. The 150w PIR I ordered from eBay. £10.95 including postage, arrived just as I got home. connected that up to cover the patio.