WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

Hi,

Well done CanadianLori; you've been very busy and can relax a bit now if you've completed the heavy work take a pat on the back.

This morning I thought I'd just pop out and make a start removing tree roots which should be much easier than removing the huge stumps but how wrong could I be; the first root has put up a terrific fight and so far is winning;


The first root and it refuses to come out it going deep into the ground rather than be near the surface; it's going to come out though.

The same root bringing half the world with it; after an hour I was too tired to carry on; I thought getting the huge stump out to be hard work.
Two stumps just below center still to get out; I've been awaiting the reciprocating saw; one's already arrived the second due very soon and is why I'm on the keyboard to receive it; I hope all the roots aren't as bad as the roots from this stump seen with the farm jack otherwise I'm in for a lot of grief. Once the roots are out then I have the pleasure and joy of tidying the area by hand.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Mowdelawn

For those non French speaking amongst us.
I've cut the grass.

 

Hi,

I've worked myself to a standstill but victory over the stubborn root which preferred to split before giving up the fight.


What an hard day just getting this one root out.


The root split rather than give up fighting me all the way; I used a 4 ton farm hi-lift jack and 2 ton trolley jack to get it out; the cheap eBay 18V reciprocating saw did its best but simply isn't up to matching my stamina; it's fine for light roots. The new mains powered Makita reciprocating saw has just arrived so I'll use this in future it's a much heavier saw built for heavy cutting but then it was also a great deal more expensive; you get what you pay for.

I need to change my method regarding getting all these roots out.

I'm enjoying another mug of tea; tea is like rocket fuel to me.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

The lawns seriously need cutting. I excused myself from the front ones as many grape hyacinth have established themselves there and are looking very pretty. Very back one by veg plots was still very wet. That left the vast main lawn.....which I usually start at the far end of and work my way towards the house - it takes 2 goes at least, on 2 different days at least. So, I want to hang out washing tomorrow so had to start near the house and work backwards.....this was soooo discombobulating. I have no sense of direction at the best of times, so goodness knows where it will all end tomorrow.

 

@Retired those roots look bigger than the stumps.

Pulled up a lot of ivy around the blueberry pots and a lot of those cleavers.

 

Surely you mean "J'ai tondu la pelouse et maintenant je suis crevé" Your original version must be Martiniquais

 

That's all Greek to me.

I learned all my French off Del boy didn't I, know what I mean.

 

This afternoon I dug up and ditched the dead Hebes. Hubs came over to give his opinion that they should be cut back and monitored but on close inspection even he had to agree that they were as dead as the Dodos.

I have a couple of Hebe cuttings that I took a couple of years back and a Hydrangea cutting I took from my parents garden 3 years ago also 4 Rose cuttings from their garden too and I also have some cuttings taken from 2 of our shrubs as well, just have to decide which will go where in the vacant Hebe spots now.

Checked over the remaining potted Dahlia tubers, thankfully I think they are OK, many are throwing up shoots now.

Ended my day having to return all the plants + seedlings to the Greenhouse, big lean-to Cold frame and the smaller low level one, not a job I look forward to after a long day in the garden.

 

Finished digging up an area for new patio and got hardcore in.

Planted a new broom plant into a big pot. Been looking for a scented one and stumbled across one in “The Range” at the weekend.

 

This morning I thought it was about time I did something about the Fuchsia standard I'm creating from a cutting of 'Garden News'. It has been growing all winter in the kitchen & now it's more than a metre high (3ft). I'd pinched out the growing tip some time ago & that produced 4 new off shoot. I then pinched these out as well. Now I've done the last pinching out of the growing tips & will let it grow & eventually flower, which may not be before midsummer.
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After pinching out the tips I took it out on to the balcony & put it in a larger pot. I expect it to stay in that pot for this year at least. Perhaps next spring I'll put it in a bigger, heavier pot.
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All the pinchings I saved & put in a glass jar with water. Perhaps tomorrow, if I have time (I have to go for my annual medical check-up) - I will put them in individual small pots in the kitchen. The last set of pinching have all rooted it seems & I'm going to have to find pots for those shortly!
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This afternoon has been pricking and pinching out seedlings...100s of them!!

 

I was carrying two large pots full of compost (last years tomatoes) and I lost my balance (bad knees) and I fell, landing on my back and smashing one of the pots (they were plastic by luck) Knocked over several things, got compost all over the place, and ended up on top of an Opuntia cactus. Result was my right hand (back front and fingers) were covered in about 10 million clochids It took ages to get them out. They are also in my anorak sleeve so I'll put it in the washing machine to get rid of them.
Hand arm knees and hip now aching But I shall carry on until dusk, no time to waste !