What are we doing in the garden 2025

Will do!

 

Hopefully, thus warmer weather will give it a boost.

The oak has not had its usual orange haze and has gone straight from bare branches to greenery. Amazing how trees adapt to whatever spring throws at them. I guess that’s how they survive for centuries.

 

I had two of these on Anglesey using plastic version. They did really well and little maintenance needed, did have to top up water levels now and again. I did repot the plants once as out grew their containers. They were out in all winds and weathers.

 

I've been getting huge creeping buttercups out of the raspberry bed. Where have they come from? They weren't there last autumn.

I get through loads of gloves, @AuntyRach. I have arthritic fingers too so gloves fingers have to be comfy and fairly lightweight.

 

I have decided to be more watchful in the garden this April.
We are too keen to zoom up to the caravan and this is what we'd earmarked in our diaries for this week.
However, I'm seeing the small events that normally go un-noticed, from the first buds on the cherry, to the unfurling of the tulips.
Of course, the sunshine helps!
So, today, I shall be appreciating it.

 

This morning, after a quick trip to Sainsbobs, I have planted a new dwarf water lily, Snow Princess, in the pond. Hoping it grows quicker than the original one as I really need some floating leaves to help with algae.
Then I had a bit of a tidy up in the shed. My shed is shared with my lodger, who keeps two bikes in it. He maintains them himself, so lots of assorted tools etc. Anyway, he has just bought himself a metal tool cabinet and tidied all his stuff up, so I thought I should reciprocate.
Then I planted a peony, Shirley Temple, in the front garden. It has been in a pot for a year and I thought it would probably be better in the ground, but the front garden may be too shady. It doesn't really matter as it is a duplicate which I bought when I thought the other one was dead, which is why there is no place for it in the back garden.
This afternoon I may plant a few more bits and pieces, and then I think I'll sit and knit in the sun.

 

I’ve made a start on freshening-up the corner of a border which has a few random plants - I had divided the Phlox already and decided to keep the one bit (for now) Just need some slug-proof ground cover under the Mock Orange. More Geraniums I expect.

Shed tidying in the agenda here today. Found the sharpening block so I’ll sharpen some tools and give them a clean over etc.

 

Seed sowing for me today and dividing a few pots of perennials I bought to grow on and multiply. I also moved all my pots of late planted bulbs and new dahlias to tables outside to free shelf space in the polytunnel.

OH has been tidying up all the nets he left in situ last autumn - daft thing to do as grass and weeds have grown thru them so it was hard work. Some is ruined but most of it still good for keeping chooks off crops. We'll need fresh butterfly nets fo rthe cabbages tho.

 

I have tried an experiment today with runner beans. It's been a glorious sunny day in Dordogne and 20C is forecast for the next 2 weeks, no frosts, just some rain in a weeks time. We go back to OH's cottage in Norfolk on the 14th for a few weeks. Our favourite vegetable is runner beans, so I decided to sow them today and see what happens.

I dug a load of compost into the clay soil, put up the framework of 12 poles and planted 2 seeds of 6 varieties along one side. Usually I sow them in pots in early May but I won't be here. Also I have had much luck sowing peas and beans directly in the ground in this garden, something seems to eat them. When we get back I'll sow some in pots for the other side, maybe for both sides.

I planted 2 summer raspberries in the raspberry patch, I only had autumn ones, and I carried on digging up buttercups.

 

Not much today, went to see my friends.

 

Spent ages digging out Helianthus rhizomes from under the lawn and amongst other plants in the bed. When I first set eyes on a stand of perennial sunflower in Sheffield Botanical Gardens I knew I just had to get some. Such a gorgeous big bold yellow flower. At the same time I'd noticed some in someone's garden in our village and got talking to the owner who offered to dig some up for me at the end of the season. (I also got a chunk from Sheffield Botanical Gardens where I'd been a volunteer and knew the staff). Happy as Larry I planted them in different parts of our garden. It's really beautiful when it's in flower but I hadn't really appreciated just what a thug it was. Oh well you only live once!

 

Today was mainly enjoying the garden, sitting out for breakfast on the patio. It was lovely!

This afternoon I topped up the pond, as we’ve had little rain now for 6-8 weeks. Also watered the pots, and planted up some sage cuttings that have rooted in water. They look good, so hope I can find some homes for them!

I also went around the grass breaking up the mole hills. Even though they were not high, they had set hard. So I had to “crack them open”, and then spread the broken up soil into the dips around the hills. Strange how a sandy soil can act like clay when it chooses!

 

Thank you @luciusmaximus, that is very encouraging. I plan to go for it, but haven't had the chance to look at a lot of options yet. Though I did notice that B&M had a watertight container which seemed identical to the same one in the picture and a decent size for just £30... As i will have rocks & plants around it, it might still look relatively natural. Hmm..

Today I repotted a plant, fertilised my pots and did half of the watering (I plan to do the other half tomorrow). Later in the day I did some gardening & landscaping for my partner's mother. It's felt busy but without much to show, at least not in relation to my own garden. But that's fine. Not every weekend needs to have dramatic changes in the garden

 

I'll not be doing much today in the garden but for some seed sowing / pricking out . I've done my back in hands and arms are stiff from yesterday trip out to collect some stone for a garden wall round the front . I found them on facebook market for free the picture were very deceiving to my eye anyway , I were expecting walling stone but they were flag stone not a opportunity to be missed, I couldn't take them all some were just to heavy but I did get most .

According to google the bottom stone around 3x2 5 half inch thick weighs around 180kg and do I feel it today . I haven't got use for them yet but in future I hope to have a patio / seating area at the top of the garden for the evening sun and a small pond.

 

180 kgs? That’s 3+ of me!