What are we doing in the garden 2025

I’ve retired a pathetic Clematis (Miss Bateman. Nice variety of plant, but it was old, leggy and generally rubbish) which was root-bound in a big pot (they don’t like pots) so made a space for something else and/or something in the pot. I dug out a ‘red hot poker’ whilst I was at it as it has annoying foliage followed by a short-lived and usually munched flower spike, and generally looked out of place. Finished weeding my gravel beach area - just left a couple of Aquilegias, some grasses and Sedum/Stonecrop round the edge. I have left the self-seeded primroses too - why not. Bulbs I planted in Autumn, in pots, look to be poking up and growing well (daffodils first, then tulips, then Aliums.

 

Thank you @CanadianLori for your advice and tips, I’m very excited as I get my birthday blockers tomorrow yay!!! I fear I will be sowing far too many seeds for my little veggie patch. Can’t wait to get started. Yes I will update as I go with my blocking journey

 

I would have thought so @luciusmaximus probably best in partial shade then full sun. A mix of compost and garden soil should be enough to give it some oomph

 

Had a nice surprise yesterday, of the six small trays of sown seeds on 28/2: the tray of dahlias is the first tray to show signs of seeds coming through. Today, lots more have popped the surface so will have an abundance of them this year to choose from. They are the pom pom variety. I am impressed in their five day germination.
I think I can see a sunflower breaking through in a pot of sunflowers I did at the same time.

 

Today is a big day for us as our front lawn is getting taken up and levelled off. Can’t wait but will need to oversee matters so won’t be up to much in the back garden. Just waiting for the chap to arrive now.

 

No work and glorious sunshine here today so a day in the garden is planned. Tidying, wisteria pruning and finishing hazel supports are the first jobs on the list.

Then more excitingly (for me annyway) onto one of this years projects which is creating a small veg/fruit garden. I need to the existing occupants on to elsewhere. A mix of herbs, some roses, self seeded or-eye daisies and lots of weeds. Part of it was a small seating area with gravel so that’s got to all come up as well. I’ve roughly mapped the layout but need to get the ground cleared so I can see it properly. I can then work out how much material I need for edging and paths. I’m hoping that the existing gravel plus some paving, old bricks I already have will be enough for the paths. We have a cottage style garden so a mix of materials will work well but I do want it to look attractive.

 

Thank you . The Anglesey Hydrangea were very big, I did pamper them a bit. The blooms were just amazing! I'm interested to find out how my new Hydrangea will get along in a pot

 

Busy day for you then . Pics of progress would be good

 

Compost/ing organising today. One Darlek is ready to use (looks good) and the other, that was emptied and used in Autumn, has begun its journey. I’ve moved it to a sunnier spot and giving it plenty of brown stuff (last year’s foliage etc) and a few grass clippings (yes mowed half the lawn!) and a massive pile of worms that was underneath. I can make a start filling it now. I also have a rough heap where bigger bits go - possibly to shred or cut up later.

 

Another lovely sunny day, finished clearing an overgrown border, 3 barrow loads to the compost bin.
Decided to have look at the rhubarb crown as early Feb there had been some growth visible on the earlier variety; nothing so poked around with a finger and it went right in. Got the spade and dug down close to it to find the whole crown had rotted. I removed it and then, in for a penny in for a pound and dug down near the other one it too had rotted so dug that one out.
Came in and thought I'll order some more, most places had no stock until the autumn. Found one nursery with stock that I'd used in the past so ordered two varieties. Checked out and discovered that unless I signed up for email updates bare root stock was not guaranteed; first time I've met that one.
Also discovered that another nursery I've used in the past; Ken Muir had closed in 2023.

 

Yesterday, I depotted and divided two varieties of Miscanthus 'Zebrinus' and 'Morning Light'. The first was totally rootbound and roots were escaping under the bottom of the pot and disappeared in a tiny, tiny gap between a wall and the garage wall! I'll wait to see if they survive with new shoots showing before deciding what to do with them.

Today the gardener arrived at 9 am and dug out three perennials, 2 Astrantias and a bushy Penstemon 'Garnet', then re-planted the Penstemon which I wanted to keep in the middle of the area - it grows quite wide and bushy so needed more room. After that she trimmed the neighbours hedge along our boundary which was overhanging our drive, a nasty spiky one.

After lunch I divided one of the astrantias in to five pieces and might ditch the other clump which is quite old and probably worn out by now.

 

I have just finished mulching the borders near my sitting area. I used 6 bags of compost from a nursery that uses it to grow their own stock and I know it won’t contain weed seeds like the last delivery of manure from elsewhere . I fed my roses and mulched them around the base. I also fed my Catalpa which I pollarded earlier in the year. There are new shoots appearing on most of my perennials which will help me identify them and avoid walking on them .

 

Washed the outside of the greenhouses, finished making the frame for the cucumbers and opened my birthday presents!! Soil blockers yay, so advanced posting here, tomorrow I will be blocking

 

Planted three rows of garlic cloves, that were sprouting in the kitchen.
Here's to more garlic