WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2022

Another scorcher (17C - a Scottish summer's day). We finished off weeding then my wife ordered an ornamental pear so I prepared a hole for it. I repaired a couple of damaged planters for sweetpeas and sowed some Lavender Hidcote. I sowed it in a propagator then put the propagator in my cold frame until/if it germinates. Feeling tired and sun weary.

 

Watered the borders and pots then finished off mulching. Lawns mowed and tied in the new clematis shoots. They are growing with some speed at the moment.

 

I've sown the rest of my seeds....

Coreopsis Grandiflora 'Golden Globe'
Monarda Didyma 'Red Colours'
Papaver Rupifragum 'Orange Feathers'
Rudbeckia Hirta 'Cappuccino'
Aubrieta 'Rich Rose' which are old seeds that I got free with a gardening magazine a few years ago. Might as well give them a chance.

Until now my garden has only young shrubs and bulbs. All the above are herbaceous perennials and I'm growing them as an experiment to see if they survive the deer during the growing season. I know if they were above ground during their dormant, winter period they probably wouldn't stand a chance.

 

I sowed five Brugmansia seeds and put four Datura seeds on wet paper towels and all are on the lounge windowsill which is West facing so don't know how they will do.

 

Potted on 3 fuchsias that I'm growing into standards and 1 verbena bonarencess rooted cutting, might have to water the blueberries in pots.

 

Today my wife got the hose out and watered everything, paying particular attention to the new trees. I treated our "meadow" with Moss Remover. This stuff is supposed to cause a growth spurt, the moss dies, then consumes itself. So no raking.
I also made up a liquid feed for some of the choice plants that are just springing into leaf.

 

Unlike yesterday I did do something on the balcony! Mostly it was watering as with the warm weather of late pots are drying out faster.

I also sowed 3 packets of seeds; 2 left over from last year, Calendulas & Californian Poppies, the other packet came from an issue of Gardeners World Magazine, possibly 3 years ago, I'm not sure. Any way they were Rudbeckias & the packet had never been opened. I hope some at least germinate to give me some colour at the back end of summer.

 

I put my waterfall pump back in the pond earlier, I've always taken it out over the winter.
Repotted a couple of cordylines and brought some of the tender stuff that has overwintered in the garage out for some sunshine and warmth.
It's ready to go back if needs be.
Sitting in the garden now watching all those big airliners going east,they all seem to take off around this time of day.

 

Every night we are suffering from overnight frosts so I cannot risk leaving anything out. 2C overnight and 19C during the day. Poor plants don't know what time of the year it is. We have wasps, bees and butterflies in abundance.

 

Its called Spring.
I can remember many years ago getting frustrated over spring conditions.
But now I mostly ignore the weather and go by the calendar, one cold night can wipe out months or even years of growing, so dont get sucked in.

The real problem is those plants which start to shoot and bud up but are growing outside all year and cant be moved.

 

Yes, this is my first Spring as a serious gardener. I know my grandfather used to garden by the calendar. My gran always said he had the nicest smelling compost heap. Annuals got ripped out on a specific date whether they were in full bloom or going over and the next planting would go in.

 

I moved my raspberries, they had migrated quite a distance from where they were originally planted.
I've got some liner that I am going to push into the ground all around them to stop them wandering (I think I'll be able to get it done soon.)

I put all my cacti succulents and Fuchsias outside and watered them. Some are still there, waiting to go into a shelter tomorrow ... they'll be all right, it isn't going to freeze tonight, (and anyway it does in the desert)

I planted some shallots in my raised bed after weeding it.

I used a leaf-sucking 'thing' to clear lots of dead leaves that had been blown from the hedgerow trees beyond the garden last autumn.

 

I stained & sprayed with clear varnish my Flower Pot Man.
My late partner Maureen bought this for me and named it Lazy John