WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2018

I thoroughly enjoyed the sleeping part .

 

Just had root canal and i think I'm going to go back to bed....too windy to go in the garden today anyway.

 

Went out early today and I knew that the heavy rain was coming at around 11am.

Did potting up, weeding, pruned a branch off my chestnut tree and started to remove a Hypericum Hidcote that's become too big.

As for the rain......it never came and it's been a really good day so far.
Still got hours to go too.

 

Attempting to beat the rain here too Pushkin.....due tom pm....so cut 2 lawns and fed them. Planted out large potted helenium too. As I was passing this morning I also cut my niece's grass ! She kindly lets me have the keys to her shed
Can't imagine any rain though......glorious again today
Its supposed to rain later tomorrow and Wednesday but then sun and warmer temps returning by Thursday.

You know Hidcote is easily and safely hard pruned Pushkin.....in case you havent moved it yet. I prune almost to ground level every spring to maintain a compact floriferous bush

 

Looks OK tomorrow but rain on Wednesday here in Bristol.

I cut my Hidcote hard every year and it just grows rapidly and blocks the light to surrounding plants and greenhouse.
I've never cut it to the ground before though which is what I'm doing now and then I was going to smash the root up and remove it.

The plan was going to plant a different half hardy (disposable) architectural plant there every year. This year was going to be Ricinus Communis which I've grown before and was very beautiful.

But I'm going to give the hidcote one more year and see what happens.

Going to cut my grass now and might do some hoeing.

 

Played golf this morning and found a fresh fairway divot in the light rough, so picked it up and brought it home. They're handy for a bit of lawn patching occasionally. (My wife says I'm stealing the golf course, a bit at a time!).

Anyway I used it to patch about three square inches next to the far sprinkler head where something had been digging. I stamped it down firmly. Then I went to clean the bird bath. Why can't the blackbirds clean it themselves after they've used it? It was minging, I gave it a good scrub with a pan cleaner. Then refilled it with nice fresh water, for them. In the meantime, the ungrateful little 'erberts, had pulled up the new patch looking for worms!

 

Well i stopped in all day, although i'm waiting to cut the lavenders with my new trimmers...it was dull and windy again and about 2pm the sun came out but no warmth .... I need warmth

 

Other half and our friend has started the top half of the wall along the back garden so I started weeding the back border and being the tea lady today.. rather boring!

Allotment is getting into shape, though! Had a good weekend planting up one bed full of spuds, sowed carrots and parsnips, moved raspberries to a new bed - most were in pots so should be fine, more weeding, dug a rhubarb crown up and give it to a new plotter and then a trip to the tip.

Polytunnel is finally being sorted with a new cover this week so we took the old one off and sorted the doors at each end.. can't wait to have windowsills again!!

 

Just got 3 Chilli plants on my windowsills now .
Got back from the caravan near Arnside today . The rockery garden we have there seems to eat plants ( maybe rabbits) and raise weeds. May need some advice from our gurus on planting plans in the country. An old townie like me is struggling. Help me post coming soon

 

Watered the potted Thalia daffs (my favourites - scent and colour is incredible although later than the others) & edged three of the beds. Slow but steady progress

 

Got the stump chopped out today moved some shrubs did more work on the compost heap i am going to build a fence round it with a panel that removes so i can get inside it, moved lots of soil into a neighbours raised bed then started leveling some of the soil out,

Some plants are roughly where there going to go i need to string some wires on the fence for the new climbers.

 

Ended up going to the lotty to cover up the potatoes. Also put a big net over my fruit bushes etc. Using one that is apparently bird friendly in the sense that they can't get trapped in it. Had an awful experience last year when I found a tiny finch had caught its wing in some plastic pea netting and got stuck. It must have died from panic/heart attack. Don't want that to happen again

 

Had all of Saturday to work in the garden but ended up feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything that needed doing. Sowed more leeks, onions and pak choi, as well as some cornflowers, hollyhocks and other bits. Planted up a self seeded thyme and oregano division, then tidied up the herb bed and continued to hunt out Garden Enemy Number One, the arum lily. If I never see another one it will be too soon.

By this stage energy was flagging but I harvested the popcorn and put the corn stalks through the mulcher. That was so satisfying that soon I was pruning and mulching all over the place and the other half had abandoned his project to join in. Garden is looking much tidier now and we have a huge pile in the mulch bay. Still need to plant peonies, iris and garlic but that's a job for another day.