Mr Grinch's Garden

As the owner of a lot of clay soil, this is something I plan to do lots over forthcoming years. Do you not end up with very high beds though ? ... or does it all just "disappear" into the earth ?

 

Weather Watch
Rain showers AM, cloudy with sunshine PM. Muggy.
Mr G's Garden Watch
The sharp sand and cement ordered today. The mixer booked. Its looking like Monday will be the day to hopefully get the paths in. I hope ive estimated enough sand. With the rain overnight and this AM, the footings bared up pretty well. Standing water lasted for about 2 hours, then gone. Im hoping my drains are helping.
Ive noticed today some green slime in a part of my wetter border. Horrible looking stuff. Im hoping once ive dug in more compost and heklp drainage this should go.

G

 

I won't hijack your thread. But I'm contemplating selling my shed off and getting the OH to build me another smaller one so I can stick it in the vegetable garden. Something I should have done in the first place but it didn't occur to me until I went to visit an open garden in grays recently

 

Do you think your larger shed is taking up too much space ? What would you do it its place?
No prob's about hijacking this thread Jane, its for everyone, so i'd be interested to see your thoughts.

G

 

Weather Watch
Cloudy with sunny intervals. Muggy again.
Mr G's Garden Watch
I chopped back my Photinia this AM. When i first planted it, i put it in wet conditions and it struggled. Went leggy, so i moved it to a drier spot. Its still leggy so i cut back the three main stems to a bud, sure ive lost 2 years of growth but im hoping to get a more rounded fuller bush later on.

G

 

Dunno yet. Don't even know if I can fit a shed on my vegtable patch, where to put the compost bin etc etc

 

Weather Watch
Rain, rain , rain.
Mr G's Garden Watch
Its not looking good for Monday. Rain today followed by showers, Saturday and Sunday. I dont want to look at Monday yet but the picture is set i think. Cant do anything in the garden.

G

 

I think rain's stopped play for everyone Mr. Grinch. It's a case of making a dash for the garden every time it lets up for a bit.

 

Weather Watch
Sunny with cloud today. Looks like we'll get a few showers.
Mr G's Garden Watch
I cleared my second wild flower patch today. The one in the main border. It just hasnt done much and flopped. Became a haven for slugs and snails. We had loads of white daisy though, trouble is, they look like the weeds we get in lawns so had to go. In its place i planted my Ceonothis. Didnt realise when i bought it that it can be tender but after reading up, im assured it will be ok "down south". Still, i made sure the area around was dug and compost added. Planting it now will give it a good three months to get its roots growing. Got rid of an old Lupin which was really woody and well past its time. Weeded and dead headed. The clover in the grass is dying, its taken a week but the weed and feed is working. The grass has greened up also. Will give it another dose in 5 weeks.
Ive taken an executive decision that the path laying will go ahead on Monday. The sand and cement came this AM and mixer due first think Monday. The forcast shows showers which in this summer, i think its the best im going to get so will make a start, dodging those showers. Could be a mistake but what the heck its only time and money and im getting impatient.

G

 

Weather Watch
Wow, amazing amount of rain overnight and still raining now. The forecast is to brighten up, with the odd shower.
Mr G's Garden Watch
If i had ducks, they would be very happy this morning. The garden is under water. The two soak away drains have worked................. im flooded on the other side of the garden now. Still, it drains quicker on that side so im hoping ney praying, that most of the water will be gone before we start the paths tomorrow. The forecast is a little improved, the odd shower now. Other than that, nothing done today, a stay in and lock your door day.

G

 

Finally the rain has stopped. And im happy to say, the worst of the water has gone. Taken about 2 hours. Im pleased. I dont think i will ever get good drainage in this garden but im hoping that all of my efforts will go a little way in helping.

The Garden








Day Lily's









Rosa 'Irish Eyes'



Monarda



Astilbe





G

 

Great pictures.

 

Weather Watch
Cloudy, muggy, the odd Shower.
Mr G's Garden Watch
Well, the paths are in. Unfortunatly, i ran out of sand and there's still 4 slabs to lay, hopefully do this next week. We were lucky with the weather, very cloudy but only had two showers. Very tired. Pic's to follow.

G