WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2022

Did some cutting back yesterday on one border but thought with the pending cold snap next week I'll get the tender plants up some salvias mainly , I'll let the dahlias get a frost before lifting them. Moved some pots in the GH and I shred a pile of cutting with the lawnmower . I would of got more done but somebody always seems to to turn up unexpectedly , I'd go out today but its raining.

Bought some bulbs off the farmer gracy sale early this week, I found some more on ebay on sale/auction as well today loads of them I've already bought two lots already spent more than I planed ( I weren't planning on spending anything )lord have mercy on my wallet

 

Sitting in the conservatory with the heating on is my job for today.
I suppose that is vaguely in the garden.

I did spend an hour outside earlier making a lid for another water butt, but my fingers were dropping off, the wood was wet which made it worse.

 

I've been taking the dead leaves off my Pelargoniums and putting some Fuchsias and other tender perennials into a perspex shelter. I have a few more to do during the week but they are by a wall for now so shouldn't suffer too much.

 

Managed to snugly bed down 8 more Dahlias this afternoon, just one more border to do. Found one in a pot that I had overlooked, so trimmed it down and stored it in the greenhouse with the other potted ones.

 

You lot make me feel lazy! With all the jobs you are trying to get done before the cold snap arrives next week!

Nevertheless even I will have to take a few precautions on the balcony as there are plants I don't want to lose either!

 

Cut back the plants in the hot border and dug up Crocosmia Lucifer with its arching stems and being under a sambucus is leans onto everything else, think I'll bring the Rudbeckia goldstrum from back garden to plant there . Planted 50 February gold daffodils in that border while I was at it .

Emptied my to troughs on the front fence , one of the bolts snapped while wrestling some of the plants out so had to put a fresh on in.

Had to chuck a couple of dahlias waltzing matilda in the bin lovely plant but did have dahlia gall, compost and everything gone . I suspected last year they had it so they was planted on there own .

More shredding with the mow for the compost heap. And carried yet more pots into the GH and potted up some plants that will hopefully overwinter in the GH.

 

Finally finished sorting out the remaining Dahlias in the last border . 24 have been left in the borders and the rest in pots are in the greenhouse. I will now be able to rest easy when our temps. dip to -5 C later in the week.
That's it now, no more Dahlia talk from me.

 

Wrapping up the last few tender plants that there's no room for in the temp conservatory, as well as a couple of variegated oleanders in borders that suffered badly last winter.

Chopped down clumps of Arundo donax, shredded it and used to mulch various salvias and cannas. After discovering a poor little apple tree decimated by the bambis, all the trees have been checked and mesh tree guards put in place. Pruned all the shrub roses so they're less of a gourmet temptation, too.
Hoping the grass will dry out enough to give a light cut and get the leaves up, but if it doesn't they'll get blown onto the borders instead.

 

Not a lot at the moment.

 

If nothing else I would like to find time to tidy up the greenhouse a bit this afternoon. It's my winters day retreat from being held captive by the house on gloomy damp day. A mug of hot chocolate, music, gardening book or my planner and seed collection and I'm happy.

Off out all morning and a few indoor chores to do first though..

 

Oh...please Upsydaisy...just a tad of clarification - have you had frost yet as you've put pots in greenhouse? I have 2 good coloured dahlias in pots, which I'd like to save. Do the tops turn black when frosted? Then cut tops off and store in unheated conservatory? All the yellow ones just get left to fend for themselves in the border but I'm mollycoddling the new pinky ones.