What are we doing in the garden 2024

We're still dry here although very soggy underfoot but yes DRY!! Despite being very windy I won't let this rare event pass by so after house chores I will do what the laundry is doing..hang out in the garden..

I need to ,once again, clear the debris off from the borders on our east patio, where oh where does it all come from!!....I really mustn't keep blaming our neighbours!!
Not too sure as to whether to chance making a very windy dash round to the greenhouse with all the seedling trays....probably not as they will more that likely receive some damage.

Would like to make a start on another main border by our entrance too. All this will is very weather reliant as I'm not too keen working in winds, have to see it I can brave it today.

 

Hi,

Thanks @Sheal I always thought Scottish weather to be even much worse than our usual Yorkshire dire weather. The media though always exaggerate everything.

I'd had enough of our trees; whatever it's called storm or gales we had three storms all given names sweep up the valley in a week. Here is yet another weather casualty; it's a huge Crack Willow living up to its name; I've removed the large damaged trunk it having three trunks but couldn't do anything else due to working on our steep garden with the terrific wind trying to remove me; fearful of the rest of the willow ending up in next doors garden I had to securely rope it as seen; it was fun attaching the ropes high up the tree whilst the tree was being blown around.

This has been a regular occurrence; the branches don't look big whilst still attached to a tree but they sure are big on the ground; this is the weather damaged trunk from the willow; you wouldn't think it so big or heavy. This was cut up in spite of the wind; it was bitterly cold and I was wrapped up like an Eskimo. Immediately the terrific wind abated I was out with the petrol chainsaws and took down the rest of the willow; because it was hanging well over next doors garden I used a 2,500lb pull winch and three ropes to control it; I cut through using the chainsaw it now supported on the three ropes and I winched it upright then I could pull it over; it worked a treat but on my own as usual it was heavy work. It won't cause any more problems.



Here's the huge oak which towered over our patio and kitchen roof; being so near the bungalow we were worried every time we had powerful wind in case it came down; not only was it dangerous the pigeons made our life a nightmare daily cleaning up their mess. It took a weeks hard work to get this oak down; the bottom branches overhanging the kitchen were double roped one by one allowing then to be fully controlled as they were lowered.

As usual working on my own I felled the oak having attached three heavy ropes to the top plus the winch making it four ropes; I never just fire up the chainsaw without a lot of planning first; with the ropes attached the oak could only fall one way unless of course a rope snapped. I dithered for ages regarding felling this beautiful oak; I love trees but trees this size can be extremely dangerous. Of all the trees I felled this was definitely the heaviest.

Here's yet another weather damaged tree; 80' tall conifer hung up in the oak tree; trees of this size hung up are extremely dangerous because they are unpredictable. Again working on my own I firstly cut it free then cut 4' long sections whilst manually dragging it out of the oak; note the garden hut which looks tiny but the hut is 7' tall.

I've banged on many times about the problems living here on such a steep exposed valley side we are subjected to; we have extremes of weather. During our two days of summer when the wind; rain; sleet; hail; snow etc give us a break it's beautiful living here with the panoramic views across the valley. I'm not in any way complaining or moaning; we have problems so I sort them out.

The immediate neighbours to the left pestered and nagged us for 30 years about our trees being dangerous and blocking out their light; now the trees and our 8' tall 90' long conifer hedge are removed these neighbours now complain "It's too open" they are well known to the police for burglary; car theft; drugs and beatings so no wonder they want privacy whilst hiding stolen things in their garage.

The immediate neighbours to the right love our trees hence I relented and our second huge oak tree and massive blue spruce are still standing; these are not too near the bungalow; I've always loved trees but how come everyone seems to have an opinion as to what we do not only with our trees but every day on TV we're being told what to do; selfishness rules these days; we please one person but upset another; I just wish the lot of them would shut up and leave us well alone to mind our own business.

Hope this isn't a rant; it's just explaining a bit of what life is like living here; sitting looking at pictures is one thing but being out there in dire weather felling or removing damaged trees is another; one good thing; I'm 76 and still climbing huge trees and doing lots of heavy work. I'm not complaining.

I feel a violin practice coming on.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

You're not the only one..we all have garden related weather issues no matter where we live unfortunately..

 

@Retired If working on the trees is such a pain; then why not make a list of what still needs doing and get some local tree surgeons to quote for the work. Give the job to the one you like the best when they come to price it up. Then let them get on with it.
That's what I did when I had a number of trees removed the other year, the cost was less than I'd anticipated and all done in two days, site cleared and left tidier than when they started.

 

Hi,

Thanks @NigelJ Yes I could easily get tree surgeons in but not whilst I'm still fit and young enough to do such heavy work. In Feb two years ago I removed 15 huge trees in just 14 days; these were logged and after I'd got the logs all the way down to our driveway were collected by a neighbour with a wood burning stove; the logs completely filled her garage and rear garden; she lives nearby and would do up to seven trips in a day other times her husband and daughter collected pick up loads. The brash I either shredded or ran to our local tip.

I've since taken down two more huge trees in August last year but for the oak tree our neighbour couldn't accept the logs so I placed them free of charge on Gumtree; a guy drove 30 miles to collect the first load in his wagon; the second load was collected in a very big van.

Total cost to me was fuel for both 20" chainsaws and lots of work. As stated in my last post I'm not complaining; I'm used to heavy work and I'm not work shy. Over 60 years of constant hard work has done me more good than harm. I'm 6' tall and weigh just over ten stones; a few years ago I was invited to visit our surgery for a check up having not visited the surgery for twelve years; the surgery nurse suggested I put some weight on. We enjoyed a good laugh.



I'm miffed that I can't get cracking in the garden or with projects because of the bad weather. It's been bitterly cold today so rather than sitting around moaning I tried a new recipe out for scones; I've made a batch of 24 scones this afternoon and I'm delighted with them.



This morning I was browsing the web looking at shower units and cubicles; I'm planning converting our bathroom from bath to shower weather permitting; I'll do the lot myself; I like to keep busy and I can do a top job of everything I do because all I need are materials so I always buy the best.

I like learning hence I'm learning to play a violin but as my short term memory is now so poor I'm also learning to play from violin music sheet music; it's a challenging hobby but extremely interesting. Anyone can hand money over and watch others work; some day I'll need to do this but not whilst I'm still able bodied.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

You are very lucky then; many are not so lucky.

In that case perhaps you could post about that, or maybe about the violin you were planning on making a year or so back, or the cooking and give the trees a rest for a few months.

 

Its my fault, I own up, my birthday is 2nd feb.
Groundhog day.

 

In that case you missed it today's the 26th.

 

Hi,

Many thanks @NigelJ Yes of course I could get on with all my other interesting projects if I stop wasting my time posting on this forum.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

@Retired personally I'd rather you continued to post on some of your other interests and skip the weather and trees for a while.

 

Raking , removing leaves, burning leaves.

 

Hi,

This might be of help to you @NigelJ



Just place me on your "People to ignore" then we can live in peace. I don't wish to offend or upset anyone with my threads or posts; I'm well aware I ramble on but if I'm not interested in a topic I simply pass it by.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

I dont have anyone on my ignore list, and I dont intend putting anyone on it, I've never done that in the 19yrs I have been on this forum, and I dont intend doing it now.
Scroll by is the answer, but it can get tedious.