WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

Cleared the front lawns today of pine cones and hundreds of Beech nuts. They damage the mower blades so I have to rake them up before the first mowing of the season (which is late this year). My one and only Beech tree produced a full crop last year, which they do every third year, so I get a rest from that job for a bit.

 

Went out to make a start weeding one of the borders but the ground was too wet and heavy and the weeds were between the young tulips making the risk of damage too great.
I did manage to get my JCB chipper working after it had been standing in my son's shed for 20 years.

 

Yesterday: more weeding, bit of digging, divided some snowdrop clumps.
Today: more weeding, dead heading, put in canes for peas, check greenhouse.

 

A wonderful long weekend to catch up with pleasant jobs. The grass is cut and things are looking quite Eastery with Rosemary in full bloom and Fritillarias replacing the last Daffs.



And then the unpleasant jobs. This stupid conifer (not planted by me I hasten to declare ) was blocking the path so I had to remove several branches in the hope it will grow up rather than out.

Unfortunately, I'm allergic to the thing so my forearms and head where the bits fell plus my face where the branches whacked me are now covered in a showy pox- like pattern. Not a very flattering look



Emptied out several large planters with winter casualties, a sad job but also inspiring as I now have various good planters to fill with things. The mini Angels' trumpets are goners but the hardy Fuchsia showed some greenness deep in the stems so is allowed to stay.

The temperatures are still shy of 15C but spring is anyways wonderful.

 

I put the Fuchsias in a cold frame which I hope will bring them on a bit, and I found lots of succulent cuttings I'd forgotten about. I put them into a shelter by my old garage - there's no room in the greenhouse.
Also did some bits and pieces like watering etc.

 

Nothing today i went to see my friend Marion.

 

This morning I potted up 20 Hellebore seedlings and gave some to my sister this afternoon. Hubs trimmed some of the shrubs in the borders, one in particular is a favourite nesting site for Robins, so wanted to get them done quickly. I noticed a pair of Blue Tits busy nest building in a corner of the roof overhang just above my big lean-to cold frame . A Blackbird has nested in an opposite corner for the past 2 years, but so far there's no sign of any activity from them yet. Lots of Bees, Butterflies and Ladybirds were also spotted today......the garden is getting busy,busy, busy!!

Nothing done this afternoon as we went out.

 

I've been emptying the one and only bed in the back garden of plants and putting them in pots. It's the first place deer come across when entering the back garden and have been devouring the plants, including a gifted rose from our dear Eddy - Armandii, not long after I moved here. There's no way I will lose that because of the deer.

Later this afternoon the incinerator was put to use having cleared the debris from the front lawns and all those Beechnuts I raked up yesterday.

 

I wasn't able to do anything today as I spent several hours taking down curtains for washing & putting them up again afterwards. I also cleaned the flat windows from outside that I had intended to do on Monday. Perhaps on Monday I can do some gardening.

 

Lawn mowed (the parts that won’t be wildflower areas) sowed cornflowers, wildflowers, other hardy annuals. Found another box of dahlia tubers in storage so potted up 10 more. Loads of bees, butterflies and ladybirds which is fab. Sowed more tomatoes as only 2 germinated from last batch. Spent rest of time with my chickens. Happy Easter everyone

 

There was a Peony planted too close to the hedge and in constant shade so we moved it today to a more open spot. Also did a little more weeding in the bed where we were planting.

 

Potted up 10 gladioli corms

 

Moved a Hawthorn I had started as a cutting and put it in a hole in the hedge. The hedge would have filled in of its own accord but the CEO didn't want to wait.
I also sprayed some of the ornamental balustrades with fresh black Hammerite.