Mr Grinch's Garden

So is Lawn Envy !

 

Mine has bare patches, yellowing and has gone even more un-evan.

Shocking. In April, i will mow, rake, mow again then aerate it with a fork, then top dress with a mixture of sharp sand and soil mixed with seed. Then hopefully by May, give it a weed and feed.

What palaver.

G

 

When you've finished yours Mr. Grinch perhaps you'd like to come and sort both of mine out please.

 

Au contraire mon ami, you will do it because it will set off the whole of your garden, and be a joy to behold each day, and when you have friends round

 

Well Kristan was dead right. I mowed today, a little earlier than planned. It was so lovely today, positively summer like. I mowed, then forked. Looks a little better but not great. Will top dress with sharp sand tomorrow. Then scarify it when the ground under foot is a little firmer.

I saw ladybirds and butterflies today, one a Red Admiral, sunning himself on the earth.

G

 

Top dressed with a mixture of sharp sand and topsoil, then sprinkled with seed. Looks bad today, but in a few weeks im hoping for lushness.

G

 

In the garden moving and dividing today.

GW last night worried me about Box blight. How heartbreaking to wait 15 years for a perfect hedge only to get shot of it. Ive got so much in my garden im worried for the future.

G

 

I've got over 800 plants in 1L pots, grown from cuttings 4 years or so ago, intended for some sort of Parterre / Knot garden. They are getting big and will need planting this year ...

... not sure what to do with them though, no point planting if they then all snuff it :(

Only thought is to put a land drain in the panting trench to give them really good drainage.

 

I think that is the key. Wet damp conditions is perfect blight conditions. You dont seem to hear of this problem in europe where it is dry and hot although, the newly planted Box i found needs a lot of watering until established.

My garden is clay and can get wet, perfect for blight but i will adhere to his advice and will only trim now in dry spells and will water from the base.

G

 

also as small young plants, there is lots of air circulation and low density which blight hates. I think issues will arise once the hedge is mature which would be heartbreaking. To wait 15 years then dig up.....soul destroying. Maybe Ilex Crenata is the way forward.
G

 

I worry about this too loads of people use an alternative. But while their alive I'm not giving up on mine. If they get it I will replace them then.