WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

Hi,

Thanks @NigelJ Yes I can imagine gulls to be a great deal worse; I'd never live at the seaside; I believe Scarborough now have guys going round the sea front cleaning up the gull mess it has become so bad.

Unfortunately a lot of the pigeons still remain with us cooing up the tree where they nested; this I don't mind because mess around this tree isn't impacting on our daily life although I'll ensure no more nests are built in the hope they move on.

The squirrels got the eggs; there were shells in the garden before I removed the nests also I browsed the web looking at pigeon breeding seasons; springtime and autumn so I got it just right; no way did I want to hurt any pigeon or fledgling it would have upset me because my wife and I are animal lovers; all the smaller birds are most welcome I even enjoy the company of a friendly robin. The pigeon mess has been increasing year on year to the point I cannot stand it any longer it becoming an unpleasant daily chore; I've been working in their mess for the last two days I hope I don't catch a disease; it's horrible.

@Perki You've had an heavy job on with your flag laying; I hope you kept your fingers out. Just for interest and a friendly suggestion to anyone laying new flags; I've laid many flags and like you @Perki I found pointing them a real backbreaking long winded job so years ago I gave it some thought and came up with an idea others are now happily copying it making the job much faster and easier;


Our patio flags settle from time to time so I repoint them but I planned for this when I first laid them; I leave a decent gap as seen in the picture; if the mortar joints open up I pop around with my SDS drill in chisel mode and remove the old mortar.

Here's what I then came up with; I had the case from an old desktop computer so as an experiment I bent a right angled lip of about 1/8" as seen; I place the new tray as seen now all I need to do is to rake in new mortar using a 3/4" narrow pointing trowel ensuring the joint is fully filled; press the mortar down then slid the tray along; this leaves a tiny gap where the lip was; having already neatly filled in one side I then run the trowel along and press down the mortar to finish off; it's very quick indeed and doesn't mess the flags with mortar which always looks unsightly; I posted this on other forums about 22 years ago and it's been well received.

Our patio with wide mortar joints; if a flag needs to be lifted it's not a difficult job.

Possibly no good for you @Perki your flags already laid but I hope it helps others.


More flags I laid with wide mortar joints.

More flags still. Not light work is it.

Kind regards, Colin

 

I'm so glad that only having a balcony with a concrete floor I can avoid all that hassle!

 

I haven't done anything today on the balcony other than to water a hanging basket that seemed lighter than the others. (Can't get up to them to stick a finger in them!) But, after leaving our granddaughter in school I took some pictures of them this morning. They are looking very good!
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

No post processing done on any of the photos hence the lack of titles on them.

 

Looking great @Balc, love the Lobelia.

i repotted an Hibiscus syriacus I did from seed last year, about 30cm/12in tall but no idea what colour, ino a larger pot. The larger pot had had a red Alstrormeria in it which did not like the heat and gave up. But I discovered lots of roots/bulbs/coms wich look like an octopus, which I will replant tomorrow. I know nothing about what to do with them.

 

Thanks @Retired think I'll give that a try

@Loofah I've used the sika stuff before with Indian stone ( mum garden ) did make it easier and less messy . But most of these stones are 3-4 inch thick cost a bomb using sika , I am not ruling it out I am that bad at pointing I may end up using it anyway

 

In the evening yesterday I went out onto the balcony to get some fresh air as it becomes stifling in the flat from about 4 to 5 in the evening with the heat when the sun enters our living room. I checked a few pots and especially the Cosmos & Carnation seedlings & decided they needed watering as with the direct sun on them from about 1pm till at least 6pm they begin to dry out quickly. Watered the Petunias on the balcony railings as they are in clay pots which dry out quite quickly and need watering daily in the heat. They are in full sunshine from 11am till the sun goes down. They have been on the balcony railings for nearly a month now.

 

Hi,

Just a normal morning in the garden today; out by 8:30 then use loppers; mains powered large reciprocating saw; small cordless reciprocating saw and petrol 20" chainsaw cutting up logs; the first lot of logs are now down by our driveway ready to be collected; a big pile of brash now to shred after dinner. This is my third day into this job but a great deal more yet to come.

I'm sighing and ticking as I cool down soaking wet with sweat; a nice mug of tea and lump of cherry cake then dinner I'll be fully charged again. It sure is hot.

Update at 8.00 pm. Just knocked off wet with sweat after a hard days graft logging and shredding; I've also just been around with the hosepipe; lots of tiny bugs on the leaves as I shredded but I was pleased of my friendly robin's company; I like to go to bed each night thinking I've not been lazy and with something positive to show for my day. I'm wet with sweat again but I feel good.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

For the past couple of days I've been sorting out the soft fruit. Tackled the fruit cage this afternoon, neglected for 9 months or so, other projects, health issues etc. Lots of weeds, a couple of fantastic dandelions, but mainly grass 3ft tall. Found a strawberry though, there is a gooseberry crop and red currants, but strawberries and black currant probably need replacing. Dug out the dandelions and other weeds, also some grass round gooseberries (need a good prune this autumn). Then strimmed the strawberry area and covered with news paper and cardboard.
More to do, but a good start.

 

Not even watering today, as everything has been given a thorough soaking. There's no rain forecast, so watering tomorrow and pinning the plum tree so it is straight rather than curving over. That'll be enough in this heat.

 

Chris, I thought it was you that started the "dry" garden thread?

 

Yeah - for that reason! Thank God for the gravel garden out front. I never water it. The patio pots and small pond area in the back are another story. I'm definitely planning on more drought-tolerant pot plants for next year, and half of the back borders are lavender, red valerian, verbena etc. They're thriving, given the last few summers and this spring. Your point is well made though

 

I dont think you will ever get drought tolerant "pots", all my drought tolerant stuff grows in the ground, the stuff that needs water goes in pots.
Apart from veg.