What are we doing in the garden 2025

My my, you've all been busy. I have done nothing for a week as we've been visiting friends. Suppose I better make an effort to catch up.

 

Cut back the old flowering stems of the lavender plants, did some weeding.

 

I re=potted three Geraniums (Pelargoniums) into one large pot and stripped the lower leaves off a rooted Red Oleander stem to train it into a standard.

 

I went to the local pond plant seller and bought 4 water soldiers, came home and chucked them in the pond.
Then I sat in the sun with a coffee and Gardening Which?

 

Water soldiers, not seen them in years, i thought they were banned.

 

Dug out a tree stump this afternoon. I've been meaning to do it for a while now, but only summoned up the energy because one of our double glazing salesmen didn't turn up.
So I swung a pickaxe. I feel better for that.

 

Oh, and noticed we now have ten of the garlic cloves a couple of inches above the soil.

 

Got to the Allotments eventually, I took the first early potatoes and some broad beans and early peas in root trainers. Only got the spuds planted, it more work than it seems. I partially backfilled the trenches with compost before earthing up as well. The soil was just moist-we need more rain. After lunch did a bit more moving around in the greenhouse and also moved some narcissi in pots up to the patio for their chance to shine, and took some of crocus, hyacinths etc back down so they can die off out of sight behind the greenhouse.

 

@Fourmerkland, you wanted a visit from a double glazing salesperson?

 

Yes, we'd booked him in, as we plan to replace some windows.
It's frustrating when you set time aside, and then they ring to say they are too busy.
Whatever happened to keeping appointments, especially when booked a week in advance? Sickness, breakdown, family troubles - all acceptable. Too busy and can't make the time? Definitely dodgy!

 

There’s three steps in one of my sloping borders made out of sandstone blocks laid in a rustic (lazy ) fashion by a previous owner with just soil holding them in place. They are useful for accessing the hedge in the border to cut it but have never been very stable, rising slightly when you step on them. A good way to test your balancing skills while holding a hedge trimmer .

Today I decided to deconstruct them and start again. First I reduced the number of steps to two and then widened and deepened the planting space at the top of the steps. This is to accommodate a Clematis which I have ordered to replace a tired large leaved ivy on a frame. It took all afternoon, was messy but I think I’ve improved them. I also improved the soil and topped it with bark which I’ll move aside to plant the Clematis.

 

@pete, no, not banned, I think they are native.

 

Yesterday I managed to lift my sorbaria Sem and relocate it a few feet over where it was less likely to be a nuisance. I hard pruned all of the stems and the biggest roots and gave it a bucket of water. Fingers crossed it'll survive. Today I gave the honeysuckle a hefty prune, cut the Rosa Rugosa down to the ground and tidied up the two philadephus. The philadelphus Fragrant Falls though is an absolute mess and I'm not sure exactly what to do with it. To be truthful, I'm inclined to cut to cut it back to its base and start from scratch.

 

On a sudden whim I decided to dig up a small clump of snowdrops which was about to be swamped by a rampant cyclamen and replant it down in our Community Orchard under a tree.
My previously planted primroses are all in bloom so I do hope both they and the snowdrops spread.
After lunch I got the new bowsaw out and cut down an ailing ceanothus as it would have been in the way of the new shade sail I plan to erect. Two of the branches were dead already so easier than I thought. Haven't worked out yet quite how or more likely OH, am going to reach the top of the concrete fence posts to attach the shade sail fixings! A ladder is not feasible in that particular situation.

 

Anyone know what has gone wrong if anything with these lettuce shoots. I’ve never done them before. Thanks for any help