What are we doing in the garden 2024

Thanks Colin, it's all gone now and I'm glad. Hope that you feel better soon, it could be the flu jab. It's nice to see the robins watching when in the garden.

 

Like others, a surprise covering of the white stuff this morning meant no gardening today. So glad I got the mulch done at the weekend, and the tender plants into the Greenhouse yesterday, talk about just in time!!

 

Nothing will be happening out there today apart from breaking ice on the pond and the other water tray, which I've already done. I cut back the remaining two dahlias yesterday, which were completely knacked with the low temps, covered them and put them against the shed, where the rain doesn't get in so easily. The soil was fairly dry due to the amount of foliage, and the recent dry weather, so they can take their chances! The ground won't be defrosting any time soon here, so there won't be anything to do out there until the weekend.

I don't know how often you need to walk in snow/ice @Retired, but there's pull on 'mini crampons' called Yaktrax you can use to keep you from slipping. Ice is always harder to negotiate than snow too. I recommended them to someone who is very hesitant if she has to go out in it, and because of the way she walks, she's more likely to slip. I think they're quite readily available.

 

Blizzarding an hour ago , sunny now to leave a winterwonderland. The garden is carpeted in fresh snow and lots of shrubs are looking beautiful especially the callicarpa profusion which is festooned with metallic purple berries which are dusted with snow and they look to be glowing in the morning light. On the downside my stand of miscanthus are horizontal under the snow , fingers crossed they may bounce back. At last the fieldfares and redwings have made an appearance , mobbing a hungry red kite over the field behind. This weather is tough on our wild creatures . Oh yes , almost forgot , no gardening today !

 

There'll be nothing today, as snow is forecast and it is freezing. To be honest there'll be little for me to do now at all until spring.

Plenty of birds visiting though so I shall watch those, and make plans for next year.

 

Hi,

Thanks @fairygirl; Bron and I don't need to venture out being fully retired although I do visit the pharmacy and supermarkets; we have a sloping path one side of the bungalow which is dangerous during freezing conditions but at the other side there are steps making it much safer; I really do appreciate your concern though.

I'm now into fourth day of a streaming cold; I'm considering wandering down to the workshop to make a bespoke tap; two inlets and one outlet with full turn washers not the quarter turn inserts which I dislike. Used tissues and sore nose; YUKKKKKK.

I'd much rather be up the garden working like mad with the rotavator than have a cold.

Kind regards, Col.

 

Volunteer day today, after leaf clearing, the start of winter pruning of the Acers. Luckily there is a new (ish) Volunteer with us now so the senior gardener is explaining things to her from scratch.
Even though I have been there some time I still find it useful to listen in, I always seem to pick up something extra. The Japanese garden is quite sheltered so even though we were not always in the sunny spot we were out of the wind.

 

I’ve just finished clearing up the damage caused by Monday night’s wet snow. Several of my grasses and large ferns had been flattened and had not returned to being upright after drying out. I’ve cut quite a few down to ground level including a Miscanthus zebrinus which was like cutting bamboo! Combined with some more leaf clearing I’ve now got two full bins for collection next week. This means that I can’t do anything else until they’ve been emptied . Good thing as the weather’s not going to be pleasant until Monday.

 

I ran another water line to my low flow irrigation. The sprinkler heads will not be going in them until the spring because the water is turned off and I like to add them one at a time to make sure I've got good coverage/overlap. I did add a home made venturi pump for fertilizing next spring. It'll be interesting to see if that works.

Then I raked leaves.

A super day!

 

No probs @Retired - I just wondered if it was one of those situations where you might need to go out locally, and would walk rather than take the car. Pavements can be treacherous if it's a wet/freeze. I know what you mean about colds too. It can be lousy - look after yourself
That's the problem here with taller grasses @Plantminded. They often get trashed by rough autumn weather, before snow even comes into the equation. The only tall one I keep is Spartina, and it does quite well until there's decent snow. Usually just some broken flowering stems through autumn, which I just cut off when they appear.
Nothing done yesterday apart from 'bird attention' and it'll be the same today. Temps have gone up, and there's some forecast snow showers, but it's not likely to be much. I have to go out anyway, so I wouldn't be doing anything even if it was wall to wall sun!

 

Hi,

Many thanks @fairygirl; if it was any steeper here I'd need crampons during summer; it's a very steep valley side catching extremes of weather; Thanks for your good wishes too.

It's steep all around us and even higher at nearby Grange Moor & Emley Moor; from our room window we have beautiful panoramic views across to Crossland Moor.

Emley Moor transmitting station - Wikipedia



Fifth day of streaming nose; goodbye garden.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Yes, those taller grasses are gradually losing favour here @fairygirl . Today, looking at the cleared area, I think a Buddleia globosa would be a good replacement so will need to remove the zebra grass roots when the ground thaws out. The bees will be pleased!

 

Yes - hilly around here too @Retired, as we're not far from the moors. On a clear day I can the famous windfarm. Lots of gardens on steep slopes.
Great when you have a nice view from your property too.
I had to drop the metal tray [that I have water in for the birds ] many times on a slab just now. It's abouot 2 inchess deep, but was frozen solid.

 

Yesterday was lovely but this morning it is chucking it down so not a lot going on outdoors.
The plan is for today to be dog bath day. I will see how it goes.

 

@Retired A lovely area you live in , Col, we have a friend in Marsden and those views on Emley Moor are fantastic . Hopefully you wont be hibernating til spring !