Mr Grinch's Garden

Patience and time. That's about the sum of it. Have you had any damselflies recently? They should be buzzing about looking for new places to lay eggs. And in a few more weeks, the dragonflies should also be about too.
One thing about my old pond (although, to be fair, that was an established one), unless I sat here gazing at it for a while, I would never have appreciated just how much was going on: newts, pond skaters, visiting damsel flies, frogs etc.

 

Very pleased with the garden this year. The dryer summer has meant less fungal issues so most things are looking good. Still get the odd bit of bind weed popping up after 10 years of trying to get rid of it so always look to isolate and spray ASAP.

Couple of gaps that need to be plugged. Around the base of one of the Sorbus is bare so need a ground cover plant for that plus underneath a rose there's a space for a mound forming perennial.
It will be d day soon as to whether i keep the Sorbus. The narrow type one i moved in spring has looked ok although small leafs but today i have noticed one of the stems dying back with the leafs turning orange and dying. Whether Fireblight or not the problem seems to be in the wood itself so i chopped the stem out today. If anymore go this summer then i will dig up and burn this in autumn. The other two Sorbus, one, Vilmorinii seems to have recovered and looking good whilst the other "Joseph Rock" has healthy leafs although small. I chopped all the die back away so will leave it until next year, if no change then this will be burnt also.

The wildlife pond has no wildlife. Looks good plant wise though. Kids badgering me to get a gold fish for it.

Already planning what to do with this corner once the kids bore of the trampoline. The play area surrounding the pool has three things it could be ear mark for: i. Compost heap, chicken run or ii. A new hard surfaced seating area or iii. Lawn. My inclination would be for lawn as this new bit of green would off set the main lawn and would look ok but im mindful of the wetness of the area even though its raised.

G

 

Go for a chicken run Mr G....

 

Like the idea but not the poo and smell. Ideally would like them running around the garden but this would make it a no go for the garden as their poo gets everywhere. Oh for an acre paddock.

 

They're not too bad Mr G...I planted Roses ,clematis and Honeysuckle up my run to eliminate any whiffs but you can get an odour if you don't keep on top of it.As for the garden,yes now that can be a problem,it's hard work trying to have a decent garden and chooks wandering but I'm determined I'll have one

 

The lawn is looking good this year. A month ago it looked terrible after not mowing for 3 weeks. I cut it, looked brown and sick, but a feed and water soon worked. My routine is follows:
March - First cut, high blade.
Early April - Cut regular blade
Late April - Cut, scarify, cut on regular blade
May - Weed and feed once. Soluble solution. Cut once a week, regular blade.
June - Scarify, cut once a week, regular blade. Feed once, soluble.
July - Weed and feed once. Soluble. Cut once a week, regular blade.
August - Feed once, soluble. Cut once a week, regular blade.
September - Feed once, soluble. Cut once a week, regular blade.
October - Cut a couple of times in the month weather permitting on high blade.
November, December, January, February - Nothing.

For those with small lawns like mine, i would always use a dilutable weed and feed or feed as it's easy to administer with a watering can and works almost instantly. About 3 days. For large lawns granules better bet, more long lasting and cost effective.
G

 

Ive had more bird life in the garden this summer. Maybe the cover this year is better. The plants seemed to have filled out and that will only get fuller and more established.

The bird i am pleased about is the Sparrow. A very underrated bird, usually i hardly see any but this year i have seen a few, mainly in groups of 5 or 6 but more than ive ever had. Its not until you go to France that you realise how much the common sparrow has declined in this country. In France there are thousands of them, constantly chirping away. As a kid growing up in West London, i remember seeing large flocks and the constant chatter in summer, but now when i go back, i hardly hear any and see the odd one or two.

G

 

I've got plenty of Sparrows here if you want them Mr. Grinch, they drive me mad with their incessant noise, it's like having a garden full of budgies!

 

Funny you should say that i have a garden aviary of budgies so i like the chatter.

 

......And funny you should say that, my mum used to breed budgies and parakeets and we both lived in Rayleigh at one point. She's now in Hawkwell and I'm here.

 

The hot colours appearing now, the reds, oranges, yellows. My favourite.

G

 

They sound wonderful Mr. Grinch. My plants have been a disaster this year because of bad weather.

 

We have been lucky down here, so far weather perfect with very little issue. Only now am i getting a bit of aphid damage to leafs and a bit of mildew.

Chloris back in some plants also.