What are we doing in the garden 2024

Pollarding more willows on the edge of the orchard.

 

It's a good system! Mine are three separate square bins placed in a row. In my mind "bays" would be something made as a single structure with divisions, like this pic from the RHS website. My construction skills aren't up to that sort of thing!

 

@JennyJB If you can imagine whats in the photo in a very rough form with a mixture of self recycled square and round wooden posts with a concoction of assorted wood lined with solid old roof slates , then , yes , its exactly like that , sort of . Its very solid , but not exactly pretty , i aim to screen the area in the spring as part of a big project for that area of the garden.

 

@JennyJB , you can buy kits that make up bays/ bins that look like that but the are bloomin expensive. On the Allotments most people stand pallets on edge and wire or screw them together at the corners. Usually use 3 pallets then one more broken into planks to make some sort of front door. Even if you line them with old compost bags, they go rotten after about 5 years, but at least they cost next to nothing to make. Even pressure treating timber doesn't stop it rotting eventually.
I have plastic bins made from recycled materials, got them at a subsidised price under a council scheme decades ago.

 

Two of my three plastic bins came from a B&Q clearance sale about 25 years ago (maybe longer), still going strong. I can't remember what I paid for them but it won't have been a lot. The other one is much more recent and I don't think it'll last anything like as long.

 

Nothing today it's been drizzling all day.

 

Don't know till I get out there; currently dull and damp, got a lot of shredding to do, some plants to move and always weeding, deadheading and trimming of edges.

 

The problem I have with wooden bins is that they don't last, as @Allotment Boy says, so you end up having to protect them. I've built them from pallets or just decent fencing timber, as well as buying them. I eventually caved some years ago and got plastic ones.
Not sure what I'll do today, but it's to be pretty dry and breezy, so it might be more leaf collecting. I should be able to fill the cage with a few more bags. I went to get some yesterday morning, and while I was brushing them up and bagging them, the bin lorry [garden waste collection] came round to the road I was in. Two bags were sitting by the boot of the car, and when the lad was taking the bin from the house I was beside, he asked if I wanted him to put those bags into the lorry. I had to explain I was taking them home, but I thought it was really nice of him to offer. He gave me a 'look' though - obviously thinking - 'daft old bat'!
I have a few plants in pots that could probably be put in, so I may get round to that. Not much else needing doing just now, so it'll be a lot of faffing and maybe some indoor shed painting or similar.

 

When I went to put the bins out last night, I noted we'd had quite a shower, the paths and cars were very wet. It's so dull and still there's no sign of it drying up yet. Not sure what I will get done either. I gave in and cleared the last 3 tomato plants from the Allotment greenhouse yesterday. After loosing the soil and adding a bit of fresh compost I put in some more mizuna plugs for winter salad leaves. Might have to resort to tidying up the home greenhouse if it stays so damp.

 

Nothing today it's drizzling still.

 

It's dry and breezy here today so good to do some catching up. I'm going to sweep up the leaves from my Acer which is quickly becoming a skeleton and cut both lawns. They are greening up nicely after being scarified about six weeks ago. I'm going to remove the Thunbergia from my obelisk to make space for a Warm Welcome rose, arriving soon to replace one I had a couple of years ago. I've got some Darwin hybrid tulips to plant in the border in front of my patio and some dwarf Irises to put in a container. I'm sure there'll be more to do but I'll be working to rule and stopping at 4.00pm .

 

Change of plan, I washed the greenhouse windows inside and out on the Allotments might finish the one in the garden later. I did the easy to reach bits of the home one a few weeks ago but I'm going to have to do it properly. With this dull weather, the plants inside need all the help I can give them.

 

Sorted out some more apples in store and again swept up more fallen leaves from the path just before the postie arrived. Yes we did get some post this week!

 

Still planting, still digging out the odd bramble, in between helping the Boss carry round the winter 'conservatory' panels and getting it in place before the colder weather arrives. Lots of cranes flying over, going south, every day now, so it won't be long

 

Having had Norovirus caught on the river cruise we went on in October, followed by a cold, I haven't done any gardening for a while. I felt too tired, but today I felt better so I trimmed the box hedge, cut down some tatty perennials and raked up leaves from the drive. OH has been mowing leaves on the lawn and putting them in a big bag which is nearly full, for mulching next year. The garden bin is full now, good thing it's being emptied tomorrow.