WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2021

Been a busy day in the garden today . Got the Hedge trimmer out and cut back the honeysuckle on both sides keeping a eye on next doors dogs don't get to close . Trimmed another honeysuckle around the GH and a spirea in the front garden . I did find a trowel on the garage site on my travels from going front to back garden and yes it was mine its been hiding under that snow . Tidied up the mess I made and got my secateurs out and climbed up on top of the shed roof to prune the wisteria and a bit of the apple tree while I was up there and the buddleia round the back of the Gh.

Brew Time

I were going to take a bit more off the apple tree but couldn't get the pole pruning loppers out of the van . Pruned my roses today a tad lighter on blood by the time I finished I am terrible for not wearing gloves , start without them on get attacked get gloves - rose need tying in remove gloves never to be wore again , wish I kept them on Rosa Lady of Shallot assaulted me .

If anybody interested on how to prune a climbing rose this is how I do it .
This is Paul Scarlet on the fence , had to untie most of it to move a nice strong stem that were growing straight up into a horizonal position, I've brought down on the other side of the fence ( pic 3 ). The rest of the vertical growth is pruned back to 2 - 3 buds and don't forget to prune out any crossing rubbing branches / diseased / dead or damaged stems, I will mulch and feed later.



Long Horizontal branch going towards secateurs (picture below) . Now that its horizontal it will break buds all along the whole stem so I will have later this year 8-10+ flowering stems, if I'd had left it vertical and cut the top of I'd possibly have around 1-3 flowering stems it makes a big difference bring the branches down horizontal or on a slope like 45degrees to 90, don't go to far past 90' or you'll will lose the effect.


I'll return to this in July and report on how well or not its done.

 

That was a very useful post thanks for that @ Perki and we have found our Pole Pruner, we purchased only last Summer so so useful. Ours, if it does get stuck in the midst of a lot of branches the top comes off..quick panic the first time, but thus preventing damaging the mechanism. Always something to learn..my pruning of various roses needs to be certainly improved as I tend to make it look tidy rather than considering the new growth...I am a secateurs hooligan apparently, but I always carry somewhere on me a plaster or two.

 

My few photos of today so far, lots to be done this morning with the Greenhouse Project and this afternoon Rain will stop play.

Thought I would ache this morning but feel great.. My labourer, was also the Directer
A very common weed here and pops up like new plants..do not know the name if anybody does that would be good..it is easy to pull up but there is so much of it..
Done a short session of pruning yesterday afternoon, Honeysuckle that has stayed green this Winter though not looking very green now I have pruned it ...The Fuchsia in the middle here is unusual, the name has escaped me. The green material fence was my design and is only attached to our fencing via plastic ties...so come the day the 4 hunting dogs have moved on, we shall remove it all. It is not an eyesore, but looked better just seeing the hedging etc.
Some plants and grasses have medicinal uses..
but just a reminder that most plants are poisonous to our Cats and Dogs and I do avoid planting certain plants for just that reason...
.

 

yes I can see that geranium connection and this is me.....when it comes to finding out about weeds
...must dash the Director is on duty now...

I really have only been told to get the instructions for the greenhouse and do not be more than a minute...... bye can't stop..laughter does help

 

Thanks, Perki. I'm picking up some compost today. My compost heap usually heats up to about 65c, but I'd rather not risk the cost of the seeds. The homemade compost can be used on the veg plot.

 

Don't know about today, It's raining at the moment.

 

The wind is blowing and it is about to rain..was hoping to get the windows in but the gusts are too much..Mr.W now thinks it is not really suitable for windy days...I hate to think after all that digging that we have to go back to the drawing board...I am still not so bothered about it because although it is a Greenhouse I really want and need...., it is not the be all and end all
The Geranium I planted last Summer is not looking good and it was so attractive when Planted right in my view now...I am not sure how I can give it more of a chance as all Geraniums are growing well here at this time of the year... maybe give it a little trim?

...

 

The Carry On of the Greenhouse Saga in Montalembert... take 4....

 

and here they are - all 5 in place. Wondering what to do with the space between the edge of the slab and the hole:

- leave it alone - the grass will fill in the gap, or
- put some compost in the gap - it will look neater and the grass will grow on the compost, or
- put some post crete in the gap - that will stop it moving

What do you think?

Potting shed arriving this Tuesday - you can see its base on the right - the tool shed is going on the other base.

 

It will be full of plants by next weekend.
Rusty

 

The Base is now in Storage..the problem was the legs of the base although they went in on the new site we chose, they still must have hit stones and slightly bent. Mr.W was putting in the PVC panels and they would not go down at the base corners by 2/3 cms. Had a debating lunch and action stations.. as my last 2 Photos..back to site No.2..going to secure the Greenhouse Frame with rods and just forget about the base...It is not going anywhere else now...

 

I would use soil/ compost, but compact it with a small piece of timber. That should keep the slabs in place, especially when the grass grows back. It will look better than post crete.

Rusty

 

We have stepping slabs like that and just filled in the gaps with soil and the grass soon grew back again..Fill it with postcrete and you will get grass or moss growing eventually but guessing slowly. I would think unless your soil is sandy you would not need anything to secure them...it looks clay like...