Mr Grinch's Garden

Wow you have moved around a bit. Nice to get away from busy South Sssex, i dont blame you. Im not from these parts, West London for me, didnt quiet move as far as you though.
What do you garden on in Man ? What the lay of tthe land apart from the rain ?
G

 

Weather Watch
More rain over night and cloudy with drizzle again this morning. I NEED sun !!!
Mr Grinch's Garden Watch
Nothing will happen today. Wet. AGAIN
Im looking at some shrubs for my wet area today. Ive decided not to plant hornbeam in front of where the kids trampoline is. I think it may look odd and not match the hornbeam planting that will be planted in front of the trellis at the back so will look at some ever green wet shrubs today to fill this problem area.
As im eager and impatient, i will buy these and store them at the back of the garden. When im finished with the hard stuff, i'll plant them. Saves spending wads of cash and getting them bought at the same time.

G

 

Here's a list of wet/damp tolerent shrubs:
Kerria
Skimmia
Ribes sanguineum
Kolwitzia amabilis
Hypericum (got one of these already though)
Cornus florida (looks nice)
All other forms of Cornus

Does anyone have any experiance of these ?

G

 

A rare day, that one Shiney! Picture 1......taken at Peel (our only city) on a clear day, although it's not the capital, that's Douglas. Picture 2......Sulby Reservoir on a hazy day. Picture 3......Looking towards the Calf of Man across a stretch of water known as The Sound. On the other side of the 'Calf' is the famous lighthouse known as Chicken Rock. Took this last one in a force 7 and it nearly took me with it!

 

Yes I have moved around a bit, I'm on house number eight since marrying, two of which were rented.

Being only 200yds from the sea (on the west coast) I have sandy soil, but further inland there's other types of soil. During the summer (if and when we get one ) there's usually a breeze, top temperature usually no more than 25C, that's a rarity though. During the winter months we get battered by gale and storm force winds when the weather has a mind to. Temperatures are pretty reasonable, no prolonged frosts and the last time we saw any real amount of snow was 18 years ago. The island doesn't suffer like the mainland in this respect.

 

Back to the Vilmorinii!

With a little research it would seem that this tree is fairly happy on any soil, as with other Sorbus types. I know most Sorbus are happy on clay having grown them in previous gardens if that's any help.

 

cheers Sheal.Lablings can sometimes be frustrating. Ive been to GC where the same plant, but from different sources have different labelling and planting instructions. Looking around on the net, the Sorbus is no different. The reason i want them is because they are a very tolarent tree, but then you see what they "prefer" and it puts you off somewhat from buying them.

I will defo have a look again at vilmorini

 

Weather Watch
Dull, overcast cold and wet. Im getting bored of this.

Mr Grinch's Garden Watch
Will try and straighten my newly planted Box hedge today. Looking at it, its not quiet in line. Better do it now as it will be too late in a year or so.
Thats about it.
G

 

All the Buxus straightened. Cropped the Sedum as its growing fast. This is done as my soil is very rich and they seem to bolt and go over otherwise. Dead headed the daffs.

Got wet.

G

 

Weather Watch
Nice today after the cold and wet yesterday. Sunny in the AM but cloudy with the odd light shower PM. Better day all round.
Mr Grinch's Garden Watch
Not much done today. Pottered. Re-staked my baby Sobus tree. It was not straight. Me being anal again, it bothered me. So, i re-staked it. Looks much better, in my eyes anyway, Mrs G said she couldnt tell the difference Dug up a Buxus plant that was too small and swapped it with a bigger bushier plant from the corner. Again small things, but it bugged me. Weed killer sprayed Jap Anenome leaves that are starting to sprought up everywhere. BEWARE of these things, they look good when in flower but spread like a weed, getting tangled up in the roots of other plants, then moved about the garden when these are divided. Ive dug all of mine up now, but you still get the odd leaf sprought from a missed root. One spray of weed killer usually does the trick.

Went to my local nursery again today. Wow its cheap. The cheapest ive seen around. Three Rose bushes for £10 and what a selection. Ive decided on my Sorbus tree. Well i say choice, it was the only two in the place that would fit my garden. Its either Sorbus vilmorinii or Sorbus Pink Pagoda. These tree's are 8 feet tall in their large pots and only £18.95 each. Amazingly cheap. I'll decide this week and get it next Sunday. Whilst i was there i bought my first shrub for my "problem" corner. Ribes sanguineum 'Pulborough Scarlet' the ornamental blackcurrent. Will plant it once the soil dry's a bit.

G

 

Mr. Grinch, do you mean to say you're going to make us wait nearly a week to find out which Sorbus you've decided on. That's harsh!

 

I know, i wanted it today but wouldnt fit in my car
He wanted £20 delivery, i could get another tree for that, so will just have to wait until the FinL van is free.

 

Weather Watch
Heavy rain overnight and this AM. Sunny now but garden under water again.
Mr Grinch's Garden
Nothing to report other than water everywhere.

G

 

Weather Watch
More rain overnight. Dull and overcast now. Heavy rain forecast for tonight.
Mr G's Garden Watch
Under water. The plants seem to be growing very strongly this year. The Aquilegia are growing very tall and the tree Peony's looks great. I measured out the right hand side of the path yesterday and i still have worries that the lawn will be too small. What can i do though. If i use a smaller slab for the left hand side path then it will look odd. If i extend the grass wider by one slab then this will look odd and not symmetrical. If i go with what i was going to do, then it will look good but the lawn small compared to what i have when i moved it. Am i worrying too much ?? Is lawn overated ? or do i just get on with it !!! Bring back the curves, you could get away with so much more !!!

G

 

go for it the plan looks gorgeous! lawns are overated