WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

Off out into the garden to do some tidying up and leaf sweeping. Power is just about to go off for the day so might as well keep moving and warm by doing some much needed garden tasks.

 

sounds like a plan! But it sure is cold our water is about to go off, I’m filling two kettles first! Haha. Can’t be without a cuppa!

 

I’m wondering if I should put my two potted cords lines and palm into the shed over winter. Rather than wrapping with bubble wrap or cloth. I tried both ways last year and they turned black and died on me!

 

They are quite small so I'd try to keep them frost free, maybe move into the shed on cold nights and back out during mild spells.
Same goes for the palm.

 

Hi,

What a very busy day today. I had a powerful urge this morning to get into the garden and ignore the cold. The car was frozen with ice so it looks like winter is upon us.

Straight after breakfast I was in the garden bagging up more ivy and debris; having now cleared the pile and carried the bags down to the car I could then concentrate on cutting the tree stump in order for me to lift it; I'm a ten stone weakling.


A bit of chainsaw work allowed wedges to be driven in.

It was hard work splitting the stump but here it's now in two pieces.

It didn't want to give up without fighting me to the limit; even here it wouldn't separate so I ended up using my saber saw; the chainsaw chain was now blunt having come into contact with soil but the saber saw finished the job. It was cut into three sections; the largest section was still heavy to lift. Removing most of the soil helped to lighten it. The chainsaw is in the workshop where I'll sharpen or put a new chain on; I have two 20" petrol chainsaws always ready for action.

The big bags were loaded into the car together with the stump and was taken to the tip; I was home bang on midday feeling pleased but worn out. I cleaned and put the tools away.

This afternoon after doing the dishes and making Bron comfortable I washed and dried the car; spare tyre pressure checked and the Adblue topped up; I've had enough for today.

I thought today would see the last run to the tip but there's more left over; the car was full but the next trip to the tip will most likely be a part load but I'm not betting on it.

The plant order from J Parker's will be here in the next five days so I'm ready. Tired but happy with something to show for today's work. It's a beautiful sunny dry day but cold now at 5.5C it will soon be dark.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

I managed to finish the path down the garden behind the rhododendrons this afternoon. On Sunday we put the risers in place. Today I back filled with logs and wood chips from the felled trees.

At the top, just below the patio...


... halfway down...


... And looking back up from the bottom (by the compost heap)

 

I've not bothered much in recent years but have some nice stems on the Musa basjoos this year so I wrapped them today, not a job I like doing and only did a pretty poor job of it, but it gives them a chance if the weather carries on going the way it is.

 

@Retired
Those stumps pieces are what I know as 'Christmas logs', applied to any ugly awkward bits, cos they take all day to burn! Tis said my Grandfather had a stack of such, which caused him to sit near enough the fire to push them forward with his boot as they burnt away.

 

Hi,

Nice job @Sian in Belgium well done.

Thanks for your interesting information @infradig I think they would burn forever being so wet.

We used to clear mountains of leaves and many bags (16 bags last year) of acorns from our path and patio @shiney. Not any more though; I cured it by getting rid of the oak tree and a big bonus is the pigeons no longer have a toilet seat to cause lots of mess.


Rather chilly here with frost; our black car is white; I prefer it black. A dry day forecast though so I think I'll head into the garden after dinner when it's a sweltering 3C.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi,

We got up to our first snowfall this morning; just a light covering but together with ice it's rather dangerous to do anything in the garden the garden being so steep; at 1C it's also very cold but it's actually a lovely bright sunny and calm morning.

I managed to get into the garden at 2:30 yesterday afternoon; I already had a pile of debris to take to the tip but better with a full load; there were large shrubs at the top of the garden steps looking tired after being there for well over 30 years so I spent an hour digging and levering them out; as usual there were more small hollies and oaks also ground cover couch grass; the lot is now piled by the garden hut and the area looks better with bare soil ready for new flower planting.

It was a frantic hours hard work before it became too dark to carry on but I was pleased to have done the job; perhaps after dinner today and it's 3C I'll take this last load to the tip then I'm at last clear of all the heavy garden work.

Our big order of plants from J Parker's might arrive today via EVRI the couriers who emailed to say the have plants but I'm now concerned about planting them in the garden because of the frost & snow. We had two weeks of heavy rain then two days without rain but frost and now today with snow; like @Sheal I can work in the cold but I dislike working in high wind; rain & snow.

I'm enjoying a mug of tea then I'll wander down to the workshop and resume work on the rotavator restoration. In spite of the weather I'm not grounded.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

sweeping the snow/frost off the grass

 

Hi,

Change of plan; instead of going down to the workshop I decided to make the final trip to the tip; the shrubs & debris surprisingly went into two big bags which were so heavy I struggled to lift them and carry them down to the car.

0.5C but a beautiful morning in the bright sunshine; this at last completes many weeks of hard work in the garden; I've been a frequent visitor to the tip with full loads but this trip was only half load.


This is what it looked like badly overgrown with masses of English ivy including a tall tree.



Same area this morning completely cleared with a dusting of snow. It's been incredibly hard work often done in rain and high wind; the small area I cleared of shrubs yesterday was the last untidy area; it's all now ready to receive new plants.

I'll get into the workshop after dinner; the rotavator restoration needs finishing off; the Hyundai 20" petrol chainsaw needs to be sorted it will run but not come up to full speed; the Timberwolf 20" petrol chainsaw needs it's chain sharpening; once these are done and the rotavator is in service I can rotavate the meadows; WOW I'm almost on top at last after only 36 years hard graft living here.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi,

Part order arrived from J Parker's yesterday the rest I believe has just arrived although I haven't yet opened the box; I'm in for a chilly day planting these but I've nowhere indoors to store them. It was -4 in the car when I was out shopping this morning; it's only forecast 2C this afternoon so I'll do the planting after dinner in the heat.

Kind regards, Colin.