WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

Mixed 3 bags of Compost (equal parts of own Comp, Coir, Feed & Perlite)

 

Did some more weeding, still got those cleavers and tidied the back garden. I'm making a dead hedge with all of the prunings at the back of the back garden.

 

I planted up some nice summer pots today.
My garden lady came and we moved a standard Cotoneaster shrub between us, to make room for some trellises I hope to put there soon ... and we got the raised bed ready to be moved next time she comes.

She told me of a new house plant shop which has opened in Swansea (several miles away but I think I will HAVE to visit it ! ) It is full of lovely house plants so I won't be able to stay away from there I don't think

 

Mowed the grass and strimmered on the allotment.
grass hadn't grown much in the last couple of weeks.

I prepared some ground in February and planted out onion sets and broad beans, I would have to suspected to be hoeing between them by now, but the onions are only just showing and the beans have hardly moved,

But where are the weeds, they are not germinating either the ground is so cold not much is happening.
Carries on like this it will be gardening in the Tundra.

 

I've got plenty of spare ones if you'd like them, just let me know

 

So have I but I was thinking of those annual weeds that alway spring up in newly disturbed ground.
Always remember being told its not worth sowing any outdoor veg seeds until you see the annual weeds germinating, and it aint happening here yet.

 

Thanks, @Sheal

 

I wasn't able to do anything on the balcony today as I spent much of the morning putting some finishing touches to the new carpet I put down some days ago in our passageway. Then my brother, who we haven't seen in over 3 years, since the start of the first lockdown, came over to have lunch with us & stayed for tea.

 

Hi,

Like you Logan I too am at war with cleavers; it's incredible how fast cleavers grow but things I want to grow are so slow; I go cleaver hunting most days.

I started to dig the area over I'd strimmed digging everything in whist spending forever trying to remove all the couch grass runners; after about 30 minutes and wondering if I'd live long enough seeing the bit I'd managed to do working on the steep slope I knocked off wet with sweat.

Indoors having a mug of tea and lump of cake I gave this some thought; 36 years of non stop heavy hard work I thought I've had enough. I'm onto a loser with this couch grass and for the first time ever I'm walking away from more hard work; in future I'll let the couch grass grow including any weeds happy to make a home with us then when any or all of it reaches around 6" high I'll just go over with the strimmer; the roots and what is left sticking up above ground will help stabilize the soil from erosion whilst the strimmed waste can act as mulch.

By doing this it's freed up lots of time so now I'm enjoying violin practices two or three times each day; doing so much heavy work for so many years it's been difficult holding the violin to my shoulder also the bow due to my arms; hands and finger joints being so stiff and playing the violin quickly became painful; now I've not done heavy work for a couple of days I feel very strange indeed; I enjoyed a longer violin practice yesterday evening and without heavy work hanging over me I found I had a lot of concentration so actually made decent progress; using my violin electronic tuner I decided to practice playing the "D" string playing the notes; open D then with three fingers E; F & G by the time I knocked off I was well pleased with my progress; what a difference a couple of days rest makes; I'm about to wander into the studio for another violin practice.

This morning I got up and hit the ground running; Morrison's; the surgery; Aldi; Home Bargains then to the post office and home by 8:25, no heavy work again for me today it's time now aged 75 to ease off a bit.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

@wiseowl , so did you dump the greenhouse? Why?

 

Hi,

Well done wiseowl; it now depends on what you want; did you use the greenhouse much if not I wouldn't buy another it's just something else needing time and maintenance; planting too adds more maintenance and being near the fence you might need to be selective of the type of plants to buy. Flag it over and save a lot of work? Whatever you decide it's entirely your call and good luck with whatever way you go.

I'm fed up of constant heavy work hanging over me; a few days ago I got around to tackling the left side of our steep garden which was a mess with couch grass growing through ground cover plants I'd put in which proved a total waste of time; money and effort; I started digging it over but soon ended up wet with sweat whilst removing the couch grass so in the end I strimmed most of it just leaving small shrubs I'd like to keep; I cleared around the shrubs then rotavated but thinking about it I've now decided enough is enough; I'll take care of the shrubs keeping their bases clear but the rest of this area I'll let the couch grass and weeds enjoy themselves until each time they reach about 6" high then I'll pop over with the strimmer taking minutes.

I'm concerned about soil erosion so adopting this method the roots and stems will help prevent soil erosion and the strimmed waste can be left as mulch; normally I do things the hard way but now aged 75 I don't want to go head to head with couch grass; strimming will keep the area tidy and looking after the shrubs won't be a big job.


The last area of garden to sort out.

Ground cover failing; couch grass rules.

Looking a lot tidier after attacking it with the strimmer; I've since cleared around the shrubs.

Useless ground cover that cost quite a bit of money; ground cover conifers and cotoneasters etc; they are now residing at the local tip.

After rotavating but exposed bare soil is now exposed to severe erosion on the steep slope; letting grass and weeds grow will hopefully stabilize the soil and won't take much by way of care.

We can all find plenty of work.

Kind regards, Colin.