What jobs are we doing in the garden today 2016

Planted more Sunflower seeds, first lot don't seem to be working, but they had been on the car dashboard all last summer

Pricked out some more Minkie Marvels, sowed some of Angelina's Big Bouncy Bulgarian Tomatoes, sent to me via Mr McHammocklashing

Sowed some Basil, threw away the poisonous Physalis seeds as I decided to let bygones be bygones with the last mrs zigs.

Sowed a few Bridgwater beans.

 

First and second early potatoes planted.
First batch of peas and mange tout planted.
Plus some chard and beetroot.

Otherwise it's been me vs the weeds today:

Couch grass completely overrun in one of the allotment beds. Spent an hour doing just 3 x 1 meter there was so much of it. I wanted to be organic in the allotment but I can see I will have to use Glyphosate on this weed.

Ripped out more Spanish Bluebells in our flower bed (I can't believe they are still going strong!) I'm just pulling the leaves now because they're buried so deeply.

 

Last couple of days have scarified the lawn - 7 x 70lt MPC bags full of moss. It looks a bit zero crop but now with potential to be handsome in time (bit like me really ). Really went to town on getting the early weeds in the main borders. Did a bit more shaping and pruning. Took a lot to recycling.

Cleaned out the shed and promised myself to keep it tidy and clean for more than a week, took a few bags of stuff to the recycling. Still a lot of stuff lurking around, today dug up a stencil kit, rediscovered British Rail memorabilia I keep meaning to put on fleabay, a big bag of mica left over from fireplace replacement, two really handsome fire grates, ....

Oh, and the calor gas tank that's been in the shed for years. The recycling place will take it but only if empty, and it has gas sloshing about it in ... No idea how to dispose of remaining gas safely.

Popped into nursery and picked up some brocolli and lettuce I don't really need but need to put in somewhere.

Bit pooped.
GG

 

Bought and sowed some edible Physalis, pricked out the Kelsae onions and bought a Holly Fern

Potted it on in a bit of leafmold and garden compost and trimmed last years leaves off

 

Project Fence. Day two. The pain goes on.

Well, it's been another fun day out there.

Having got the posts in yesterday, the next job was to attach the gravel boards and rails. I manage to attach the gravel boards without too much bother, then move on to the rails. This is when the fun begins.

First I need to drill holes in the posts and the rails so they can be bolted together. Run extension lead down to end of garden, plug in electric drill, get drill bit which I'd bought for the purpose ... doesn't fit that drill.

Ok, never mind. I have a small cordless drill in the garage, let's try that. The drill bit fits, but this drill has nowhere near enough power to drill through a four inch post.

Right, nothing else for it. I'll have to go and buy a proper cordless drill which is up to the job. So, off to our excellent local hardware store. It's Easter weekend, it's very busy; so obviously the ideal time for loads of pensioners to go there for an amble around the shop and get in everybody's way.

Anyway, after a while, and some advice from the very helpful and knowledgeable chap in the store, I head back home with the appropriate piece of kit, and a much lighter wallet.

Having finally drilled the posts and rails, it's time to attach the rails. Bolts are too short. I'd forgotten to allow enough length for the post and the rail.


So, back to the hardware store to get bolts which are the correct length. At least it's not still swarming with oldies this time.

So I can finally fix the rails to the fence posts. As the job progresses I keep losing things; pencil, tape measure, spanner and so on get mislaid with depressing regularity. While all this is going on, the neighbours on the other side of the (currently non-existent) fence decide it's a good idea to let their dog out, so it can rush down the garden and give me a good barking at from time to time. How very helpful.

So eventually, after a whole day of faffing about in a near gale, being barked at and gaining some interesting new aches and pains, this is what I have to show for my efforts.



All that's left now is to attach the palings. There are only 40 of them to do, what could possibly go wrong?

I will be so glad when it's finished.

 

I feel your pain. I'm trying (badly) to put up a raspberry cane support structure. Mine feels way too rickety.

 

Me, I sawed some planks which are going to be part of a frame for a raised bed. Her indoors just wanted a heap of soil over some compost to stick her strawberries in but I could see that making the garden look even more messy than it does already so it's me has to make the frame. Got stakes, wood preservative, a drill and screws ready. Now the only problem is finding the time.

 

Can't manage a lawn roller because of the weight so after doing the potting up I went over my lawn trying to pound down the lumps with my heels. Must have looked like I was doing a war dance out there.

 

So far today I've raked my small veg bed, planted my broad beans, sown some peas & put some canes together in a wigwam shape for my French beans, made a start on the greenhouse ....but the hens have thrown me out as its raining very hard!

 

Project fence. Day three.

It's finished!

All that was left this morning was to attach the palings. Amazingly, it all went without a hitch. A couple of hours was all it took to nail them on. Even more amazingly, the rain held off until just after we'd finished too.





All that's left now is to decide what to plant in the gap which has been created between the fence line and the chicken run.

We want to plant it up to create a screen between us and the (not particularly sociable) neighbours on the other side of the fence.

My initial thought was a hedge, but I think instead I'll fill the area with a mixed planting of large shrubs which I can keep pruned at about 5-6ft. That part of the garden is part of my small 'wild' area, so I'm thinking a mixture of native and other plants which are beneficial to wildlife, to include evergreens and deciduous for good all year round interest and shelter.

So far, I've come up with the following:

• Holly
• Guelder Rose
• Box, left unpruned
• Cotoneaster lacteus
• Purple leaved Hazel
• Buddleia
• Native Dogwood

Any other suggestions folks?

 

Great job and looks fab!

As for suggestions on which shrubs ... well, because it is the area next to your chicken run I would be inclined to include some shrubs which would be beneficial for them.
So, as an example, Wormwood grown near the chicken coop may help control external parasites (can also be steeped to give them a "tea" to act as an insect repellent).
Rosemary is an obvious one and, again, acts as an insect repellent for your hens but still encourages bees for the "wildlife" aspect.
I have a pot with lavender next to my chicken run because it is alleged to have just as much of a calming effect on them, as it is reputed to have on us.
Herb fennel is another which is good for bees and also butterfly larvae. The leaves and the seeds are supposed to be good for hen health (which may explain why they used to tug at it from their run in my previous garden; they do love it )

Or maybe I'm over thinking things

 

This morning started off having a "discussion" with a local garden centre. If male and female plants of a particular species are wanted, then the answer they give should not be "we dont sort them!" Needless to say, they did not get any business from me.

After returning home, it was a phone chat with another far more helpful place, then it was a case of doing some light pruning to the Burning Bushes, and some edging of the lawn.