What are we doing in the garden 2025

It seems i probably am similar to all of you, without realising it i had a feeling that people were planning their gardens to the nth degree, buying specific plants for specific spots but maybe it’s more a case of knowing generally what will work and then figuring out exactly where it’ll go once you get it home.

 

I'm a long distance planner so to say There are plants that are a must (Echinops, ferns, Bergenia, hardy Geraniums) and plants that are on a mental "must have" list based on some gardening book I read perhaps some decades ago.

Oddly enough, I do a lot of browsing online but what sticks in my head are things in books.

Smartphone is great when I find a very interesting plant in a shop- a quick google tells me if it is realistic in my conditions or not. Saves a penny or two. (Breaks my heart too, it's hard to walk away )

For garden layout, I'm intuitive rather than a drawer. Having moved houses and countries all through my life has given opportunities to start from scratch several times. Best garden planning happens sitting by the window, looking out, and dreaming.

 

I wouldn't worry about it a garden is forever evolving and growing

If I were starting on a blank canvas yes research planning etc .

I mainly do have an idea what I want or need when I am looking for a plant but like everyone succumb to something I wasn't intending to buy . I do tend to plan though I've got a couple of plants for plans for maybe 3+ years into the future.

 

Looks like most got out into the garden and got things done

Pointed the stone flags which took an hour or 2 , shredded a big pile of green waste with the lawnmower for the compost bin . Made a start on rose pruning but only got one done Ghislaine de feligonde its a lovely rose I'd recommended to anyone , made some plans to whip out a aucuba and replant another shrub rose for my Rose courtyard . I didn't get anything done after pruning Ghislaine had some visitors which put an end to the sunny spring like day unlike today

 

Or wetter summers and drier winters. Either way, drought-loving things suffer and don’t last long.

 

@latimer, I usually have a space in mind (eg dry shade) and then I go to the garden centre to look at what might fill it. That said, plants don’t always flourish where you think they will and sometimes something just calls out to you and you can’t leave it behind. I don’t spend a lot though. I like to buy very small plants and watch them grow. My most expensive purchase has been £20, but most were under £5-8 until the pandemic. Now things cost a little more and, if you want something unusual, you may need to get it online, which adds postage. But it would be rare for me to spend over £10 on one plant.

 

Ghislaine de Feligonde is said to be a great rambling rose indeed. I nearly got one in the past but in the end this one pipped it to the post for me: The Lady of the Lake®

Yesterday I moved 3 plants (1 carex and 2 festuca glauca) & went to a new garden centre, only to come out empty-handed (except for some fertiliser).

Today I did some light pruning and started fertilising some of the roses (even though it might be a bit early) before it started raining.

 

Aldi has gardening specials in from today.
I bought iris, gladdies and freesias for £1.89 per bag, plus fibre pots.
And a pair of fleece lined crocs for greenhouse wear!
Sowed Sweet peas (I grow a pack each for friends, too), Gardeners delight, Principe Borghese and mixed lettuce.

 

Yesterday cut out the old loganberry canes and tied in the new. Today i cut out some of the old blackberry canes but still got to tie in the new, thought that the old blackberry canes would be good for supports for other plants when they have dried out.

 

My Hearts Tounge has a temporary new home.. It can sit there for a wee bit and contemplate it's new home whilst I figure out where it's going to go.


I then went and contemplated the area where shed used to be and then contemplated this area. The mountains you can just see the tops of are The Mourne Mountains. They are close to my house. They are actually much bigger, but camera makes them look smaller, not sure why .

 

I'm glad I am not the only one that does a lot of garden contemplating!

 

Oh, I'm always garden contemplating! Usually when I'm trying to get to sleep.

Did a rather tricky screening job in a confined space at the back of the old garage. Think it will work and hopefully will block out a not very nice view from the guest bedroom window. Delighted to find that my clematis Dr Ruppel is doing its best to rise from the dead nearby - yet again, so hastily put some slug pellets around the tiny shoots then covered it temporarily with a plastic cloche as a 2nd line of defence. It if survives, and grows well it might even twine around the bamboo screening I've just put up.

 

Ooh, do slugs go for clematis shoots? Better be on the alert as a little one I planted late last summer is just showing life.

 

Are the slugs about to start showing up already?

 

Probably, it is getting warmer down here and better be safe than sorry. I really, really need this particular clematis to survive where it is as planting another will be nearly impossible.