WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

In the garden but not gardening. I've cleaned the windows on my bungalow and at just 2C/36F, even with the sun shining, my fingers were frozen.

 

I did a bit more pruning, the shredder will be the next thing in action, much as I hate cold weather I much prefer these dry sunny days to the cold wet ones that are termed "mild", just as long as the cold doesn't get too bad.

 

Hi,

It was cold working in the garden yesterday at 5C but even colder for you @Sheal with only 2C being further north than us.

It's cold again today with more frost this morning so I'll wait until after dinnertime to resume work digging the tree stump out. I'm about to wander down to the workshop to do more work on the rotavator restoration.

UPDATE: I didn't get into the workshop; instead I thought am I a wimp wanting to hide indoors because it's cold outside so headed up the garden with the trolley jack.

The stump is now out and temporary living by the garden hut having been rolled down the mountain. I'll need to quarter the stump in order to load it into the car to take to the tip.


The underside of the stump having been jacked a levered out bringing half the garden with it.

It sure left a big hole.

Resting by the garden hut but still needing quartering so that I can physically lift and carry it down to the driveway.

Some of the roots but more roots still remain to be dug out .

I've just knocked off needing recharging but after dinner I'll probably head back up to have a go at removing the remaining roots and to fill in the big hole. I forgot how cold it was but coming into the bungalow I suddenly felt frozen but all in all a good morning.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

I love it! Mrs Shiney is very talented indeed!

 

Well despite the drizzle that eventually got more persistent I had 3 hours in the garden this morning.

Because I am currently experiencing a flare up in my old grumpy joints I didn't achieve as much as I had hoped...and unfortunately I couldn't temp darling hubs to join me.
I did manage to cut back the blackened foliage of 20 really big Dahlias covering them with leaves, dry compost , bagged polystyrene chips and finally an unturned pot . I have 21 more to do+ I need one to be dug up...or maybe it can be gently cut back a bit at it's base as some of it's tubers are visible. I did manage to dig out another one myself as it was in the wrong place as one of the Apple trees ended up covering it when it's branches bent with the heaviness of all the fruit.

I still have a way to go yet...I will only be truly happy when all the Dahlias have been attended to. Unfortunately time is on the short side this week, due to other commitments and the weather.

Oh woe is me.

 

The cold has got too bad,
Just raked up a few leaves and that's it for today, its dry but miserable and with a damp feeling.

 

Yes I agree Pete the cold is far worse than the wet isn't it . I was fine in the rain this morning as I had my wet weather gear on ...but my hands and fingers were so incredibly cold despite wearing my gardening gloves.

 

Hi,

2:30pm and already too dark to carry on in the garden but I've something to show for today's grafting.

Now clear of the tree; its stump and roots with lots of debris raked down to where the remains of the ivy still needs digging up; this will be the next job then I can have yet another trip to the tip.

I love hard work and could watch someone else do it all day long.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

I don't mind working in the cold @Retired as long as it's dry and windless. The ground remained frosty here all day, just 1C/34F, so nothing done outside.

Is that the last of the hefty work now the stump is out?

 

Hi,

Thanks for asking @Sheal Every time I think I'm on top of the heavy work I find more still to do but surely after 36 years of constant heavy work around the bungalow and gardens it must be coming to an end. I feel like I've had to clear a forest just to get to the soil; putting the new plants in when they arrive will be one of the lightest jobs I do. I still have an heavy job to do; the tree stump needs cutting into quarters then I can carry it down to the car.

Like you @Sheal I can put up with cold weather as long as it's dry and not windy; living here on the steep valley side we always have a prevailing breeze. It's pouring with rain again this morning and only 3.5C but not windy;



If the rain quits after dinner I'll put in a couple of hours removing ivy; one big push should see it clear; I had hoped for a couple of dry days but I can dream on. Taking wet garden rubbish to the tip has never appealed to me but it looks like it can't be avoided. We usually enjoy some snow before Christmas to add to the joy of gardening.

I've already done the shopping so I think I'll resume work on the rotavator restoration this morning keeping busy rather than sitting indoors moaning about the dire weather.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi,

In the garden it was this afternoon; light rain; cold and very miserable but I'm delighted to have removed a great deal more ivy; this time mostly runners rooting at intervals some must be 10' long and it was like a huge web as I pulled and used the spade as a lever. More stumps too from shrubs; a number took some getting out using spade and long heavy digging bar;



Here's the digging bar I use; it's very heavy but does a good job of levering roots & stumps out.

I had to knock off at 3:30 due to it being too dark to see what I was doing; it was also too dark to take pictures. More still yet to do but I'm now well on top of it; another trip to the tip should hopefully be the last for quite a while. It was too wet and slippery to use the petrol chainsaw to quarter the tree stump in safety; perhaps I'll manage this next session but from today the weather turns very wintry not that it's been pleasant today.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Greenhouse day today , packed up the dahlias in the boxes noticed a couple more have got Dahlia leaf gall new tubers this year ( one of my old david howard has got it as well ) so thrown them in the bin sadly , think I'll get my dahlias from a British supplier / grower next year. Brought a few more plants in the house and potted some pelargonium up for overwintering in the GH . Bundled all the overwintering plants in the GH together and fleeced them supposed to be a cold one this week.

 

Out in the garden since early this morning until mid afternoon . Ended up working out in the rain but it was worth it as all the other 21 Dahlias have finally be sorted and are now protected ( hopefully) and ready to sleep their way through the Winter weather.
Still have a few tubers drying off as they were planted in the big urns ( won't make that mistake again) which are too big to move to a covered area.
Not too successful at overwintering tubers so , much prefer to leave them in the ground.

 

Hi,

I'm in for a chilly start in the garden this morning with 4C forecast; at least it's above freezing; I want to try my best today doing one final big push to clear all the debris and with luck the big tree stump if I can cut it up. Breakfast first then I'll be fully charged.

Kind regards, Colin.