WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2022

@shiney as Victoria has said many wild animals show no fear of humans if they have little contact. The fear develops when they are abused. The parrot family on the whole are the same, but humans need to be careful around them as some can be naturally quite nasty and inflict some horrible injuries if they take a disliking to someone.

 

As we are forecast higher temperatures for a couple of days I will make a start on throwing away the plants that have been killed by the frosts of the last week.

 

I've cleared out the garage of plants that prefer outdoor conditions but cant stand severe frost, how long that will be for I dont know, but I have created myself a walkway down the middle now that I hope I can keep for the rest of the winter.

Had a look round, got some dead stuff and some that will not really show if they are dead or alive until next spring, either way its certainly knocked some stuff back a few years already.

 

Been cleaning plant labels today hopefully tomorrow I will get chance to lift the dahlias. Tried to water some pansys in the GH but the water can is a block of ice so put them outside, it feels quite warm outside .

 

So cold out, but maybe get the ridding more out to continue to relocate some leaves. Actually it looks decent on the lawn areas, leaves 90% picked up. some of the flower beds need further attention, but don't mind the leaves in there as that offers some protection.

 

I finally got rid of the plants that had been frozen solid for a couple of days. The great majority of the Geraniums, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias & a Marguerite that were on the new shelving unit were totally dead, no way could they be saved. Two Geraniums however managed to survive, one is still flowering!

Six of the seven hanging baskets were dead as well so I just cut the plants down to soil level & put them back where they were before. Four of the baskets had variegated Geraniums that were in their 4th year in the baskets! Every year I had put the baskets up against the windows & they had got through just fine - but not this year! 2 other baskets had a Pelargonium in the centre with several Ivy Geraniums around them but the days of freezing, sub-zero temps put paid to them! So I did the same as with the other baskets & cut the plants down to soil level & left them in their place till I see what I can do with them next year. One hanging basket is nestled into the far corner of the balcony, on top of the mini-greenhouse. It doesn't seemed to have been killed off from what I can see from below but I will need to get up on the balcony table tomorrow to examine it closer.

At least the great majority of the plants inside the mini-greenhouse that had been shut up for nearly a fortnight looked to have come through in good condition!

 

Today we put the planters with the Tulips and Ranunculus out in the garden, They had been in the garage and up off the floor. I also checked my JCB Garden Shredder. It is jammed/seized. The electrics are fine (it groaned). Not surprising after sitting in a shed for 20+ years. I'll have to strip it down once the weather improves.
My better half also had me dig her father's old "steam" radio out of the garage to see if I can get the working. That will be a task. Can you still buy "cat's whiskers"?

 

Just general tidying up and the odd bit of cutting back of stuff I know is dead now, put the pond pump back on until the next cold spell.

Opened up all green houses and sheds to get rid of condensation as some of the larger cacti were running it water due to the rapid warm up, the cold water in the cacti takes time to warm up and the sudden warming of the air causes the warm air to condense on the cacti.

 

It couldn't happen to nicer plants...

 

Just pottering in the 'conservatory' today, clearing up leaves, watering and picking satsumas

 

Don't throw the roots away, Balc. I chop my ivy-leaf, zonal and royal pels down to soil level every year to get rid of the horrible pel moth caterpillars and the roots (in pots) survive anything as long as they're not wet. In fact, there are a couple of scented-leaf ones outside in a sheltered border that have taken on hardy shrub status

 

Got out the small trays that I use for soil blocks and cut fresh paper towel to set new blocks on. It works out so well for capillary watering as the paper disintegrates by the time the seedlings are ready to pot up.

Checked the mailbox to see if my Kelsae onion seeds arrived but was disappointed. Only three more days of postal delivery before Boxing day so

 

Opened up the big walled ' cold frame ' this afternoon as it was really mild and sunny. The Pelargoniums looked in pretty good shape considering the numerous -7C nights that they have recently had to endure.
Each one got an individual checkover , trim and general tidy up if they so required and a watering.

 

Managed to finish emptying one of the compost bins that i started a few weeks ago and put the compost under the Rhodes and Azaleas.