What are we doing in the garden 2024

It’s the time of year, for me, when one job leads to another, the garden waste bins are overflowing, and the days I have ear-marked for some some gardening are often scuppered by rain.

My main jobs for the week ahead are: more tidying of any brown foliage from last year, doing a survival-check on last year’s cuttings (and pot-on the survivors), the annual trying-to-remove-non-native-bluebells, and general pottering (the latter being a staple any time of year). Oh and deciding on what seeds to sow (no greenhouse so always limited by windowsill space and the weather).

Looking forward to hearing about everyone’s efforts and sharing all the good stuff.

 

I've added some photos to my gallery - mainly just before and afters because when we moved in (Oct 2022) the garden was just an overgrown lawn and brambles. I've got more plans for the garden but some of it depends on future building work we've got planned at the back of the house. Still, not bad progress in just under a year The afters were taken in August 2023.

 

This is so sweet - where did you get those planks? I love the combo of the wood and the terracotta. And the kitty of course

 

@Prestwich Gardener- I got the planks from a wood merchant. Originally, they went around the edge of a pond I was building. I planted up the edges of my pond and moved the wood onto my patio to create displays of plants. I have daft ideas like that occasionally.

 

Thank you @Fat Controller, that's fine, it was just a thought and certainly only a suggestion for those who would find it useful.

 

Great, thank you for that explanation @Fat Controller, that's what I was a bit concerned about hence checking with you first. Good to know that we can post away with our photos in threads and also useful to know the limits!

 

I've planted 3 shrub roses between the climbers that I've already planted on the gazebo, Olivia Rose Austin, Annapurna and Rose de Rescht.

Then I planted the Vitex agnus-castus shrub that Daughter 1 gave me for Christmas in the new bed that I've been making. I haven't yet planted the other shrub she gave me, a cape mallow. That bit of the bed is still grass. Put masses of compost mulch on the rest of it.

 

I love a before, during & after garden transformation, you have made a massive difference in less than a year. I look forward to seeing what you do next (no pressure! ).

 

We finished installing an archway into the orchard using reclaimed wood from other projects in our garden. Looks good! Then we tackled the ever never ivy that seems to love our garden. Cleared the area and then transplanted Gladiolus papillio (from where it shouldn't have been growing). Dug up so many corms and as they are £2.50 each from one seller we have certainly got our worth. Hopefully they wont mind the move. Stunning flowers.

 

Thanks @Panda2! It's been hard work, especially digging the borders. I had a balcony garden in Manchester city centre for ten years and you couldn't really move for pots (it was less than 2m squared), so it's been exciting if a little overwhelming to take on a garden. I'd like to reduce the size of the lawn and shape it to be a bit more organic eventually, but that all depends on how far the patio for the extension comes out.

 

Well I think it looks lovely & your balcony experience obviously stood you in good stead. When I first moved in my house 17 years ago I redid the garden & as much as it looked lovely for a time, amongst other things, the beds & patio were too small & lawn too large . Once the space is determined by the extension & patio you will know what you have to play with & which of your ideas\ plans will work. In the meantime you have a lovely garden to enjoy.

 

@Busy-Lizzie I have vitex agnus-castex that I grew from RHS seed when we could still enjoy the seed distribution scheme. It does well here.

@Prestwich Gardener It must be both daunting end exciting having a whole garden to play with. loads of fun to come.

I went to the garden shed today to fetch a tool and found OH has filled it full of clobber he just shoves in with no thought to accessibility or my new knees so I spent this pm emptying it out, reorganising and replacing so that both I and the sand martins can get in and out without breaking our necks and I can find the tools I need.

New hooks for hanging things and a wee shelf under a beam to help hold up nests.

 

@AnniD @Jacquiscrap I sent 2 years ago marrow seeds to Spain, but you need to use a stamp for Europe which was last year £1.75 for a normal letter. My seeds arrived and were sown successfully.