What are we doing in the garden 2024

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by JWK, Jan 1, 2024.

  1. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    @fairygirl it's normal for us but there are other factors involved. Ours is virtually all leaves and grass and that new heap you see will have at least twice as much again put on it. Being only leaves and grass it compresses down fairly quickly, with a lot of heavy bashing, and builds up a fair amount of heat in it. I sometimes add ash from the bonfire but nothing thick or woody goes on there as we have too much of that and have to get rid of it in other ways. We have four compost heaps like that.

    We fill three green waste wheelie bins every week and burn a 7ft high bonfire about five or six times a year. :phew:

    We have no problem here as we can't be seen by the neighbours and it's extremely convenient when I'm working down the end of the garden. :heehee:
     
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    • fairygirl

      fairygirl Total Gardener

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      There isn't any great mystical process with leaves @Robert Bowen . It's just a slightly different type of breakdown from compost, and the time it takes is dictated by your conditions and climate - as with all gardening. :smile:

      You'll need to ensure the soil is decent for the lupins @ArmyAirForce - it isn't just about the light and moisture they get until established. Then - watch out for slugs....;)
       
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      • fairygirl

        fairygirl Total Gardener

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        Yes - the heat element is the one that's difficult here @shiney . Mine never gets to any great temperature, even with extra insulation around the bins.
        I use branches, or similar, for my dead hedge, or for piling up in corners for wildlife. If I have too much at any point, it goes in the 'cooncil bin'. I have a large pine trunk that needs taking down, but that will be kept in the garden for that sort of purpose.
         
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          We're fortunate to have enough wildlife indigenous in our garden.

          Over the years we have had to deter some of them. Deer and badgers no longer come in and very few rabbits stay long as patrolling cats have sorted out their warrens.

          Squirrels are welcome, pheasants live in the garden (cats and pheasants ignore each other), we have a 'resident' Red Kite, numerous birds (20kg of seed every five weeks :rolleyespink:), bees and wasps aplenty (bees are still quite busy in the garden), butterflies (a mass of Small Whites this year plus we have a stinging nettle section for the Red Admirals, Peacocks and Tortoiseshells to lay their eggs).

          Meet Kiddo :heehee:

          upload_2024-10-31_9-2-49.jpeg

          upload_2024-10-31_9-2-49.jpeg
           
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          • ArmyAirForce

            ArmyAirForce Gardener

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            The one I already have planted in the railway has done well this year, with several rounds of flowers. The earth that it is planted in is best described as building site soil. When it was delivered, it was full of bits of brick, stones, glass and the nozzles from silicone tubes, so not the greatest quality. I mixed in some sand and compost before planting everything and all the plants have done well.

            I'm going to do something similar on the edge of the woodland, with additional soil and compost. There's always plenty of leaf fall to enrich the soil and deeper down to the original soil layers, it's had at least 20 to 30 years of leaf fall.
             
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            • Robert Bowen

              Robert Bowen Gardener

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              @Butterfly6 I find it hard to motivate myself at the moment too. For me , I think its the fact that we have a long cool dark spell in front of us before new life starts in the new year. Theres still lots of interest in my garden in winter but it doesnt help motivate me until i see those green daffodil stems growing strongly after Xmas and then i get my impetus back and i want to crack on !
               
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              • ArmyAirForce

                ArmyAirForce Gardener

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                The older I get, the harder it is to get motivated. Once I've actually started, I'll enjoy it, whether it be gardening, astronomy or my vehicle maintenance, but that initial push is the hard bit, especially when it's cold and dull outside.
                 
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                • Robert Bowen

                  Robert Bowen Gardener

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                  @shiney President Shiney you are a man after my own heart . I love your philosophy, though i am not sure i would want to pay your monthly bird seed bill! :smile:
                   
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                  • Robert Bowen

                    Robert Bowen Gardener

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                    @fairygirl Like you say , its working with nature and finding something that works rather than trying to bend nature to your will , which is about as useful as shouting at the rain to try and make it stop.
                     
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                    • Robert Bowen

                      Robert Bowen Gardener

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                      @ArmyAirForce what i will say in response is , is that i wish i had the energy and application that you have demonstrated in what you have done at yours .
                       
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                      • shiney

                        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                        Back last century I used to claim some of it on my tax return as for dependants. :roflol:
                         
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                        • Robert Bowen

                          Robert Bowen Gardener

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                          :roflol:
                           
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                          • ArmyAirForce

                            ArmyAirForce Gardener

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                            My daughter and I have just come in from raking up two bags of leaves and grass to make compost. It took us an hour, so if you added labour costs to that at minimum rates, about £20. By the time the two bags rot down in a year of two, I'll probably have one bag - which I could buy for £8.00!! I can't see it being a regular habit for me!!
                             
                          • Jess91

                            Jess91 Gardener

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                            A nice dry and breezy day today. I've mowed the lawn and spread horse manure mulch on some of the borders. I don't have as much as I thought though so will have to pick up more from the yard tonight.

                            Not much left to do now the days are shorter. I'm going to leave tidying until spring in the hopes of attracting more wildlife.
                             
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                            • shiney

                              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                              So what would you do with the grass and leaves instead? :scratch: :heehee:
                               
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