What are we doing in the garden 2024

Nothing yesterday apart from a couple of small bits and pieces later on once the rain stopped. Got some wires redone yesterday, and moved a few pots around. Hopefully more productive today, once I've collected more wire, so that I can finish off those ones on the back fence. I had to remove them to replace a fence post earlier in the year. I shredded lots of paper and added it to the compost bin, and I have some stuff to empty into those as well, and give them a mix. Cut and come again lettuce that's been sown indoors needs potted on to keep it all going.
Deadheading and some work beside the shed will be happening, and maybe even the guttering on the shed roof for the waterbut round there too.

 

Nothing in my own garden.
Went to the Water Garden again with dog and daughter for a walk and coffee. I was delighted to see they are clearing around a number of young Oak trees along the Long Walk. One in particular they discovered amongst a forest of undergrowth. They have cleared around it, put down several tons of top soil, levelled and grass seeded the area. Put a couple of benches under the tree which has grown into the classic oak tree shape seen in old paintings, flat bottom and domed top. They christened the area Pooh Corner. We don't have many oak trees in Cornwall so it is lovely to see them, Pooh Corner is set back off the path so public can sit under the tree and cogitate quietly.

 

Wild morning. I'm so happy everything got done.

Emptied the last big containers, hiding the compost in the shrubby border and under the hedge. Faced the unfaceable and cleared the dark side of the tatty corner and learnt that Bramble thorns get softer if they are buried under at least two years new growth on top.

Started to remove brambles from the bottom of the fence too until I realised the brambles are probably the only thing holding it up, so did just some cosmetic snips instead.

Strimmed around, and gave the final cut to lawns.

Advertised the lawnmower on local free listings (not out of spite, but because my new garden will not have a lawn) and it was collected within two hours.

I have to take my hat off for plastic. Many of these planters are 17 years old and still going so strong that I hope they will serve the new owner (who will collect them this afternoon) well.

The 50cm ones are awfully useful but as my new garden plan will see the need in about a year, I can't be bothered to pay to move them. Plus I already gave myself a birthday present of some wonderful large proper terracotta planters for the new house. (OK, my birthday is in October but at least I'm not late! )


A final sweep around and a tour to collect the bits I'm forgetting (bird feeders, thermometers, watering cans...) and the garden is ready for the new gardener

 

These type of structures are inexpensive but do not, in my experience, have great durability. My 'Out sunny' version,3mx2mx2m lasted just two seasons before the south side cover disintegrated between the grid mesh, the thin polythene material blowing out in ever increasing numbers. In theory a new cover can be obtained but is 80% of the cost of complete.
Have replaced with a 6x8 greenhouse (Free via gumtree !)
I have repurposed the tubular frame, with bamboo canes and strings to form a bean tunnel, which is working well. I may yet attempt a repair of the old cover with polythene sheet and redeploy in a more sheltered area.

 

I did wonder about durability @infradig but decided to give it a go as we are able to position it in a very sheltered position. It will get rained on (if it ever rains again here, almost a month since the last decent downpour!) and the roof gets the sun but here’s hoping we get a few years out of it before we need to replace the cover. I looked at the Outsunny version which was even cheaper so don’t know if the Smart Garden one is any stronger

 

The old cage was just the one where our first Degus came in when I accidentally bought them. Off topic, here's the story.

I was browsing Gumtree to buy a badly needed bookcase when a post for Degus came up. I had never heard of Degus so googled and asked my then 10 years old daughter, still mourning the loss of our last old Guinea pig, to take a look.

As taking a pet is always a family decision, we asked what Dad thinks about getting four Degus.

"Over my dead body!" he said, so we arranged for the Degus to arrive the next day. The cage was tatty and the couple was selling them as the needed the cash- but the Degus were very well looked after and the young lady was in tears when parting with them.

Our current cage is this one , very sturdy and good size. Recommended. As are Degus as pets, diurnal, intelligent and sociable- what else can you ask for? (OK, they are rather fond of stealing Monopoly pieces but that can be controlled).

 

You will find that it performs differently to a glass greenhouse- its colder when its cold, hotter when its hot ! If I was to repeat this, I would look to remove the cover 'out of season' ,or perhaps cover with a tarpaulin. Its the ultra violet decay thats the problem; accompanied by our draughty coastal location. I couldn't find a greenhouse (at my price- nix !) at the time.

 

Trying to tackle the high hedge on the right hand side of the rear garden. It's already about 12ft high, and over 6ft deep. Branches are too thick for the hedge trimmer, so it's been a matter of up a ladder, with secateurs and pruning saw.
Then I've been thinning out the dead wood within. I've completed a length of about ten feet!
Satisfied!!

 

Thanks for the info @infradig , will keep a close eye on it and hope for the best

 

I've had one of those for some years and in my opinion, they are well worth the money. They are not greenhouses as such, but keep the worst of the weather out so are very useful in sheltering plants, overwintering less hardy ones or cuttings or hardening off young ones in the spring.

My first one's cover broke in the first storm so I emailed the company asking for a replacement cover, instead they sent me a complete new greenhouse. The extra metal bits have come in handy over the years as plant supports. I have used the frame to support my outdoors toms, very sturdy and practical.

Well worth the money I'd say

 

If it's not blown away by the winds, it might last for 3 or 4 years. However, I noticed that it can be very warm inside and they are quite dark to grow anything apart from shady plants. But my one stood in full sun.

 

I've got 5 badly overgrown apple trees, only one has stayed a reasonable size and usually produces some fruit, the other 4 got really big and about 3 yrs ago I gave them a good cut back during the winter.
The results were each tree growing massive shoots going straight up and this year they were back to the same height.
Yesterday I lopped them back down, hoping that by doing it now it won't produce such vigorous growth next year.

I could get rid of them entirely to be honest, but just an experiment.

 

I used to use those plastic covered gr'houses as I never got round to having a proper gr'house, or didn't have room, or the money, for one. They aren't great, but it depends what you want to use them for too. I attach mine to vine eyes in the fence or wall they're against, to prevent them disappearing. This garden is much more exposed than the one I had round the corner too, so it's a better approach. You might be ok if it's well tucked in though @Bluejayway. I did have one that barely lasted a week. It had a small hole in it by the zip, and the wind got in and ripped the whole cover off!
I don't know what I'll get done today. Nothing yesterday as I wasn't feeling great, and still not today. If it clears up more than yesterday, I'll get on with small bits and pieces that need done. I have some plants that need putting in, or changed around, so maybe that will happen. I could take the fennel out from under the kitchen window. Attracts too many flies, which then get in the kitchen easily. I have some small V.bonariensis cuttings that have been growing on, so I'll replace it with those. Plenty of fennel elsewhere for the flies, and the little willow warbler.
Other than that, just more work by the shed - maybe the guttering for the waterbut...

 

Removed a lot of bindweed from the fence, shredded a lot of stuff, then cut the front grass, well more deadheaded the plantains.