What jobs are we doing in the garden today 2016

Lamb ears, lovely soft leaves...PS if there is a chance to get a few while I am there shiney, I would like to take some (they dont need to be in a pot).

 

Well, I've done a little weeding of the herb bed - again!
Wrapped in the new growth of a wild hop that is growing near the garden gate.
Sadly decided that my clematis tangutica has not survived the last winter.
Checked on my tumbling toms and aubergines in the cold frame.
Cut the grass - 2 hours of slogging at it, even with the new wider more powerful mower .
Sat down with a long cold drink, to spot a small tick crawling up my leg.
Needless to say, it is an ex-tick, and I will be doing a full-body check in the shower a little later.

The downside of a wildlife-friendly garden, I suppose

(Relaxing with smilies!!)

 

Checked all my new border plants are happy and thriving; things are really beginning to get growing now and I see some buds on a few plants

Tackled some more bindweed

Potted up a trio of mints for one of my neighbours. I'll hang on to them for a few days to make sure they are happy and then pass them on

 

Grape vine is coming into leaf

 

Are the gossips about?

 

Spent some time after work planting out dahlias and sunflowers in my cut flower bed. I think a cat had left me a present there as it was a bit pongy and loads of flies started swarming.
Potted on a couple of things in the greenhouse and gave everything a good drink. Made sure to finish digging and put the fork and spade away before husband came home as he wouldn't be happy, I'm nearly 6 months pregnant now but the garden is still very important to me.

 

Got the hose out and gave the turf I lifted and re-laid yesterday another good soaking as soon as I got home.

It's been strong sunshine with a dry wind here today, just about the worst possible weather for newly laid turf of course. It should be ok though, I made sure I cut the turves as thick as possible when I lifted them and I'll keep soaking it on a daily basis while the weather stays dry.

Popped in the greenhouse after that and did my second sowing of sweet corn, watered a few things here and there outside and staked and tied an honesty plant currently in full flower, which had developed a severe lean in today's strong wind.

 

Got the day off tomorrow, got a window sill to paint & these chaps to plant, amongst other general bedding plants & some sweet peas.

 

Nice selection there @Ben James you'll be needing the advice of GC member @Anthony Rogers for those fuchsias
I bought Morries "Shrimp Cocktail" last year and it is a beautiful thing. I had mine in a pot with a variety called "Army Nurse". Only one has shown signs of life this year and I'm not certain which one, but my gut feeling is that it is "Army Nurse"

 

Ooh! That's what I needed to hear this morning! I will hold back from replacing then...

 

The trouble with growing fairly large plants in containers is that they have really heavy rootballs and are an absolute pain to root prune/repot. This weekend I will be doing two Lilacs and three or four large Rhododendrons. The Lilacs' roots grow especially quickly so they are a pain in the posterior. In addition to that I'll be mowing the lawn, digging a big hole in the border for a large Acer which I'm removing from its container and planting out. I also need to fill a couple of borders at the front which are currently bare but I can't decide which of my container plants to put out there - do I plant the Roses or the deciduous Azaleas or both? Or do I plant out Hydrangeas? I've got some bedding plants which need to go in as well as lots of Hostas and other plants which I bought last year and which are still in their plastic pots because they never got planted out when I got them. But first I have to go to B&Q to get tons of manure and compost.

I can see my back being very creaky by this evening

 

Try not to over do it!!!!

I'm been pottering. Now some of the sunflowers are popping up I've thinned some out and planted them on into a deep trough at the side of the arbour together with some sweet pea seedlings which really needed putting in their final position. Because they are all looking rather pathetic in that trough, I put a small group of Sweet Williams in there too. Planted up the remaining sweet peas in a pot on the patio and made a wigwam from trellis and twine for when they get going.

I suppose I really ought to do something in the front garden at some point