What jobs are we doing in the garden today 2016

Started sorting my 2 coffins under the front windows, easier work than I had anticipated, planted ivy in it a few years ago, it has choked everything else, so dug the lot out, put a small hydrangea in and replanted a few bulbs, going plant shopping this morning, will do the other tomorrow as promised a friend I will sort her coffin today.

 

This week, I ave been mostly weeding.

 

There aren't any bodies in them are there Pam ?

 

At Last! A sunny day (after five days of gloom and cold winds), so I made the most of it and got quite a bit done today.

Had a right good pruning session: Forsythias, Viburnum tinus, Kerrias, winter flowering Lonicera, Spirea, a Fatsia and a Mahonia all pruned, shredded and added to the compost heap. Also tidied up a native dogwood in my wild area which had a large branch snapped off by last week's strong winds and shredded that too.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Trunky was clearing a few spaces and planting out the Rudbeckia 'Rustic Dwarf' plants which I'd raised from seed.

Did my last sowing of sweet corn in the greenhouse.

Mowed and edged the lawn.

 

Hopefully one of the builders, nothing but problems since we moved in, new build in 2007, all the gardens had to be replaced after nearly 3 years of occupancy, contaminated soil, all, except me, went for slabbed completely. Will post an old picture of my garden and beyond you can see the others. This is about 4 yrs old,

 

if it get drier out there will be cutting the rest of the grass, back yard and the valley. Pulling some weeds.

 

First day of sun for months ok maybe not really months, but it's felt like it ...

... so, the area I had carefully removed bindweed roots from last summer, I decided to ...

... remove more bindweed roots Actually, this year I had also resorted to weed killer too, so it was mainly getting the blighters that hadn't, yet, sprouted. Reason being, the bed I had created back in March and now flowering, had a couple of colour clashes which I didn't like. I had decided that the bindweed area (where I'd removed a Solanum, also back in March) would be the designated "red" corner (ish). So, out came the pretty pink/red rose from the March border, plus the geums and over they went to the Red (ish) corner. I'd bought a flowering currant from a recent village sale and I'm assured it is red flowers, so that went in too. Still looked a little bare, so I transplanted some of the Sweet Williams into that spot as well. Then scattered some wallflower seeds and some poppy seeds for good luck. All watered, slow release fertilized and mulched with chipped bark.

Now that left the March bed looking a little naked in parts: so, took a yellow rose out of its pot and put that where the pink/red one had just come out. Moved my Shy Knee geranium to behind a heuchera, moved the Bowles Mauve to behind the geranium and in front of the aquilegia. Now they look more companionable Had some young Echinacea plants that I had grown from seed so they went into a space vacated by the geum.

Happier with the layout now and hopefully the plants will be too

 

Rather surreal, just used the snow shovel to scoop up the flowers from our "snowball" viburnum, @Anthony Rogers!

 

See, I knew you'd end up doing that.

PS.... What else would you use a snow shovel for, round here we haven't had any for six years. A drop of rain would be welcome as well

 

Squeezed a few spare bedding plants into the borders, Then potted on 3 daturas that have finally decided to put a growth spurt. Washed all the pots (around 500ish) I've used since spring with sun on my back.
Then just sat in the garden and enjoyed it

 

00000000000000000000000000015810Well we're currently redesigning ( sort of ) my moms garden after having the shed taken down and removed ( don't want to say too much as when it's done I'm gonna put a thread up ), but put some trellis up and got the Sweet Peas in, started planting up the first few of about 12 new containers ( they should all match then ), planted out five pots of Lilies.

All this after a trip to The Range to return a lean to greenhouse with parts missing, parts labelled wrong and only half the instructions Grrr. Managed to get a full refund after a testing phone call yesterday.

Still, bought seven new Pinks ( can't remember all the names but they're the old fashioned nice smelly ones such as Mrs Sinkins, Grans Favourite, Cheryl and Devon Cream ). Also a tray of bedding Geraniums ( Pelargoniums ).

While I was doing this my mom was finishing the painting that's been waiting to be done for about six years.

I'm just glad to be home now and have a rest

 

Husband planted out the last few roses and perennials in the new border. Watered everything including the greenhouse which was at 40ish degrees! I need to have a gentle tidy up tomorrow. A friend has given me some new staging just as my cheapo plastic/mesh shelf has collapsed so maybe I'll try and swap it all over tomorrow. Still need to give some things their 'Chelsea chop' too.

 

Did a small amount of Chelsea chopping and emptied the side of the greenhouse where husband will put the new staging in.

Very sad because he dumped my watering can on top of a reel of barbed wire and it made a hole, and despite visiting 5 different shops I can't find a 9/10 litre can which my special small plants/seedling rose fits on tightly.

 

Went to B&Q and ended up coming away with an indoor Madagascan Dragon Plant for the bathroom (looks lovely) and some giant poppies for outside (can't remember the exact species, whoops!). The bees were all over them though, even had one attached whilst trying to get it into the car! The label said it was a pollinator specialist, they weren't lying! £4 for a big pot not too shabby for a bit of colour. Also planted up some mixed dianthus into two terracotta pots, and gave everything not yet in flower a good water and feed.

Also bought some sunflower seeds and Californian poppy seeds, and sowed them into tiny pots. They're now in the sun out back. I've never done anything with seeds before, and I realise it is perhaps a little later than ideal, but Monty Don said on Gardener's World this week that it's not too late, so I thought I'd give them a try.

 

Ok went back out and got the new staging in and greenhouse reshuffled a bit. Washed 60 pots to take to school tomorrow and did all my trays at the same time. That might give me the push I need to sow some biennials and perennials for next year.
Potted on 5 Bowles mauve I've grown from cuttings, they're so easy I've got loads. Also got way too many dahlias, maybe once I've sorted/weeded where the wallflowers and forget me nots came out of I'll pop them in there.
Oh and husband repaired my precious watering can with a rivet!