WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2018

Weigelia

 

I've not done a lot today after yesterday's heavy work. I'm recovering from mowing most of the lawns and digging out a big bed of buttercups (not finished it yet ) but have removed all the allium siculum from that bed and they'll be potted up for sale for next year.

I pottered around and started pulling up the rose bay willow herb that has suddenly made an appearance all over the garden . They're now noticeable as they have started to flower.

 

I'd disinfected the Green House yesterday with Jeyes Fluid and this morning I brushed it out. I'd already disinfected the 15 buckets that the Tomato plants were going in so I filled them with compost and then took them into the Green House but by which time, because the weather was hot and humid, I needed a long cold drink before carrying on. The Tomato plants were on a table by the Gable end of the House and I picked the best 3 of each of the five varieties so I planted them into the buckets, giving them a good watering.
I then got all the various sized pots of Cacti and succulents that were on the Kitchen window sills and moved them out to the Green House replacing them on the window sills with my new collection of Carnivorous Plants. Actually, I did find room for three of the bigger specimens of Cacti on the window sills so they stayed where they were.
The 60 or so Clematis on either side of the Trellis entrance to the garden needed more tying in as they seem to be growing several inches a day!! There's also several perennial Sweetpeas in the Clematis so they needed tying in as well.
I was hoping that a 25 to 30 year old Washingtonia in a very large pot which had been badly frosted by the "Beast from the East" would survive and pull through but unfortunately I found out a couple of days ago when I checked it that it had died. I don't that the very low temperatures that would had would have killed it but because the freezing cold weather went on for a week or more I think that that was what the real cause. So I had bought a nice Chamaerops Palm to replace it and I replanted it in a mixture of compost, sand, and grit into the large container and it looks good. While this was all going on I had connected the long hose that runs the length of the garden at the back of the West border from the outside tap to the wildlife pond to fill it back up. The prolonged dry, hot weather that we've been enjoying has reduced the level of the pond which, at the moment, is brimming with Tadpoles and I wanted to pump back some oxygen into the pond as well as the water. I'm hoping to find some time this week for a wade in the pond with the Chest Waders to tidy it up and also plant some more marginal plants in crates along the shelves, which might be better done in the evening when it's cooler. I enjoy wading in the pond as I find it relaxing and therapeutic even if the Frogs are staring at you from their different viewing points

 

Don't you only need knee waders?

Rifle and big freezer come immediately to mind.

 

Since I'm vertically challenged, Shiney, I definitely need the Chest Waders