What are we doing in the garden 2024

Yes, I got one of those kneelers after having both my hips done, they really help.

 

You folks can kneel? Impressive!

 

Thank you @Jenny_Aster about the kneeler.

 

I have a similar kneeler made from plastic that can be used either way up, so that you can kneel or sit. Just wanted to warn people that sitting on it is not very stable - I fell backwards off mine a month or so ago. No major damage but that was luck I think. The metal ones may be better.

 

Didn't know you could get plastic ones, mine is made of metal. You can use it upside down where it becomes a seat, but I'd only use at as a seat if I was desperate.

 

@Jenny-Aster I think mine came from Aldi. I was sitting on it whilst painting a wooden planter but I don't often use it as a seat - probably never again!

 

If you want to avoid kneeling, try using a long handled fork for weeding. It’s like a hand fork but with a handle a bit longer than a normal spade or fork handle. I think I use it more than any other garden tool, not just for weeding but also for turning soil between plants and clearing away leaves. You can then pick everything up with a grabber if you don’t want to bend or a dreaded garden vac!

 

Got a long pole I can attach various tools too. And my grabber is my constant companion out there.

 

@Februarysgirl Please wait with your Campanula. The ones I have had were really strong plants. I had take one out because it started to spread like a thug being in the second year. The remaining 2 plants different type are growing well.
I’m sure your Wedding type will bounce back.

 

@Plantminded thank you, I do have one of those. TBH I rarely use the kneeler, mainly just if I am planting something and even then I usually forget. On this occasion i used it because I wanted to sit down and didn't want to get paint on my garden chairs.
I just wanted to warn peeps of the instability issue - I think I was lucky not to injure myself as I fell backwards onto hard paving.

 

I have a plastic kneeler too with sides to help you get up. I prefer it as it's lighter.

I finished the gazebo bed and made a start on weeding the raspberries today.

 

Unbelievably, I had to water areas today where I needed to weed. The ground has gone straight from bog to concrete due to the week-long, howling wind and sun. Tidied up a couple of phormiums. Planted up a few gaps left by winter casualties and spent the rest of the day trailering and applying mulch.

 

It's the same in my garden too in Dordogne @noisette47. It was like a bog and now it's dry with a crust on top of the earth that I haven't mulched.

 

Pete you must have purchased your seeds from my supplier. £3.99 plus postage for 6 chilli seeds. How tight fisted when you consider how many were in the free packet supplied by GW. Fortunately they have all turned into seedlings and are growing well.

 

Dug up some hollyhocks and foxgloves, all in the wrong place. Have replanted them and hope they survive. Weeded an area that was so full of grass and hogweed. Put down some materials to hopefully stop the weeds between our house and our fence (very narrow area). Turned out the pots with tulips in (but then one pot had no bulbs!) and got them ready for planting out some more sweet peas. Moved some marigolds (self seeded) from the polytunnel to outside.