What are we doing in the garden 2024

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by JWK, Jan 1, 2024.

  1. katecat58

    katecat58 Gardener

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2022
    Messages:
    264
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    Cheshire
    Ratings:
    +399
    It was actually warm enough to sit out for half an hour but the sun has gone behind the clouds again. I dug up a peony which was being strangled by thuggish geranium Rozanne and put it in a pot for now - not much hope that it will prosper but better than where it was. Also ate two tiny strawberries and picked three small courgettes for my tea.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • On the Levels

      On the Levels Super Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 17, 2024
      Messages:
      786
      Ratings:
      +1,803
      @shiney we have the same problem in our orchard and veg areas with the cracks being large enough to put your hand down...if you wanted to! But our "lawn" doesn't show this. Strange.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • On the Levels

        On the Levels Super Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 17, 2024
        Messages:
        786
        Ratings:
        +1,803
        We have continued to remove the ivy from a brick wall between us and neighbours (our side only!). This has allowed us to reposition some bamboo supports for Clematis armandii. Being able to see the brick wall has made all the difference in the small courtyard....it looks so much bigger.
        Carried on AGAIN refinding one of the paths that I did only a few weeks ago. Why do so many of our plants want to grow across the path and make in half the width it should be? I know less competition.
        Planted out the only dwarf french bean that germinated out of 40!
         
        • Like Like x 2
        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

          Joined:
          Jul 3, 2006
          Messages:
          63,706
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired - Last Century!!!
          Location:
          Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
          Ratings:
          +124,331
          We have the same but the lawn is OK because of early morning dew.
           
        • Busy-Lizzie

          Busy-Lizzie Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Mar 13, 2024
          Messages:
          1,247
          Gender:
          Female
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          Norfolk and Dordogne, France
          Ratings:
          +3,905
          Yesterday I spent 2 hours tidying OH's Norfolk cottage garden. I did it before we went to the Lake District and Yorkshire for 8 days but it needed doing again. Lots of deadheading, tying up, cutting down etc. I filled one of those big green cylindrical containers as the garden bin is full again. Our gardener who looks after the garden here when I'm in my home in France had cleared a lot down the drive. Surprised at how dry the soil was. I put the sprinkler on the long border. Water pressure here is pathetic.
           
          • Like Like x 4
          • Plantminded

            Plantminded Head Gardener

            Joined:
            Mar 13, 2024
            Messages:
            1,125
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Retired
            Location:
            Wirral
            Ratings:
            +3,691
            Last week I removed a couple of Iberis growing in the dry sandstone wall in my back garden as they had got woody and stopped flowering well. Several gaps were revealed as a result so today I've planted some Sempervivums, Sedums and a Thyme in the gaps to join the self seeded Erigeron which doesn't seem fussy about where it grows! Whether the plants take is questionable as the last time I did this in my previous garden, the birds decided to remove them!

            DSC01276.jpeg

            I also refreshed my alpine trough.

            DSC01275.jpeg
             
            • Like Like x 8
            • ViewAhead

              ViewAhead Head Gardener

              Joined:
              Mar 14, 2024
              Messages:
              1,982
              Gender:
              Female
              Location:
              South of the South Downs, north of the sea!
              Ratings:
              +4,333
              Top of my gardening rules. :biggrin:
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • Agree Agree x 1
              • Funny Funny x 1
              • fairygirl

                fairygirl Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Oct 3, 2020
                Messages:
                2,748
                Occupation:
                retired
                Location:
                west central Scotland
                Ratings:
                +5,937
                Weather today will dictate what I do. I have some concrete to mix and put in, so I'd rather it wasn't too wet for doing that, but it's looking a bit iffy.
                I might plant a little hawthorn seedling I have into the end of the front boundary hedge, and there are quite a few lonicera cuttings that can also go into the other B's Gold hedge. All those little jobs I mean to do - but something else always seems more important. That lonicera hedge needs a trim - didn't manage that last week either. I'd rather it was dry for that too, but it won't take long to do. The grass could do with a wee tidy, especially the edges, so I'll try and factor that in.

                Nice trough @Plantminded.
                 
                • Like Like x 3
                • Butterfly6

                  Butterfly6 Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Mar 14, 2024
                  Messages:
                  473
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Occupation:
                  Keeping busy
                  Location:
                  Birmingham, top of a hill facing East
                  Ratings:
                  +665
                  We spent yesterday clearing ivy and hops off our back fence behind the greenhouse. Am planning to reclaim the metre wide bed for raspberries. Up until now it’s been a working area aka dumping ground. I liked the ivy but the neighbours behind don't and continually rip at the bits going through the slats which is damaging (our) fence. The hops were also inherited and are a nightmare, rampant growth and the bristles give me a rash, never any sign of wildlife either even though it’s meant to be beneficial. It took two of us nearly four hours.

                  Some of today will (has to) be spent doing the work I was procrastinating about yesterday. I also have a plant delivery arriving, hoping that comes this afternoon so I have a chance of finishing my work TTD list before I’m lured out into the garden.
                   
                  • Like Like x 3
                  • Goldenlily26

                    Goldenlily26 Super Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Mar 20, 2024
                    Messages:
                    783
                    Gender:
                    Female
                    Occupation:
                    Retired
                    Location:
                    Cornwall
                    Ratings:
                    +2,254
                    A brilliant idea. That is what I call thinking outside the box.
                    I need to replace my vacuum cleaner, was thinking of investing in a Henry. Now I might revise my idea and buy one to use inside/outside. I have a large, very weedy patio which needs repointing.
                     
                  • Plantminded

                    Plantminded Head Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Mar 13, 2024
                    Messages:
                    1,125
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Retired
                    Location:
                    Wirral
                    Ratings:
                    +3,691
                    Thank you @fairygirl. You gave me some tips a while ago:).
                     
                    • Informative Informative x 1
                    • Bluejayway

                      Bluejayway Plantaholic

                      Joined:
                      Mar 13, 2024
                      Messages:
                      672
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Occupation:
                      Retired
                      Location:
                      Wales
                      Ratings:
                      +2,183
                      I love my Henry @Goldenlily26 , but it's a bit cumbersome when you've got used to a cordless. Henry can't be beaten for suction though!
                       
                    • Goldenlily26

                      Goldenlily26 Super Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Mar 20, 2024
                      Messages:
                      783
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Occupation:
                      Retired
                      Location:
                      Cornwall
                      Ratings:
                      +2,254
                      I have never had a cordless, always preferred a drag along behind type. It will be a case of finding which one does what I want that I can afford. There seem to be so many different styles from itsy bitsy pink fluffy ones to massive big burly industrial ones strong enough to suck me up their pipes!
                       
                      • Like Like x 1
                      • lizzie27

                        lizzie27 Super Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Mar 13, 2024
                        Messages:
                        549
                        Gender:
                        Female
                        Occupation:
                        Retired
                        Location:
                        North East Somerset, UK
                        Ratings:
                        +1,776
                        @Goldenlily26 .We had a pull along Miele which I began to find a bit heavy so bought a Black & Decker cordless stick one a year or two ago from Argos. It's brilliant and so light and easy to use, I'd never go back to a corded one. You can detach the top bit to do sofas, stairs etc. It even has a light at the foot which shows up the dust (and therefore the bits that you've missed).

                        The only drawback we've found is that it does need emptying almost every time which again is quite easy, just press a button to empty into the bin and do a more thorough clean say once a month.
                        From memory it was about £150 or under.

                        We also have an old industrial type 'Henry' which does wet/dry stuff, outside and inside which we bought whilst renovating this house. OH keeps it in the garage for rougher work.
                         
                      • katecat58

                        katecat58 Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Jun 10, 2022
                        Messages:
                        264
                        Gender:
                        Female
                        Location:
                        Cheshire
                        Ratings:
                        +399
                        I have an AEG cordless vac, and previously had a Dyson. As @lizzie27 says, they are light and easy to manoeuvre. However, as owner of two indoor cats with litter trays, I find that they are useless at picking up the litter which gets thrown out of the tray and spread around. So I also have a corded vac. The cordless mainly gets used for upstairs.
                         
                      Loading...

                      Share This Page

                      1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                        By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                        Dismiss Notice