WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2018

Well when I've recovered from and finally start...the besides will be done and slight another daily ritual

No sweeping of back garden today but bird baths will be done...then my days set for relaxing with a good in a cool area

 

Morning! I have a Gtech long reach hedge cutter. It is light enough for me - if I just do a bit at a time. Can keep going with it - just about - until the battery needs charging again....so you strong chaps might find it a doddle

 

If I can Shiners, so can you.

 

This morning I had a go at clearing the weeds from the front gravel. I managed to clear the big clumps at the point where the cars come in the opening. It was hot out and hard going. I got bored after this and sprayed the rest with weed killer. Another day I will probably go out and clear another section.



I had a rudbekia in a pot by the back door. Last year it had the most beautiful display of orange flowers. This year it's as dead as some doo doo. I replaced it with the begoinia bulbs that I hadn't committed to putting anywhere yet. There was a self seeded nettle in the pot which I decided to leave as it adds a bit interest. Whether the begonias flourish or not, the pot looks a lot better now than it did.



G.

 

For the last couple of days attention has turned to the bed beside the deck with it looking a little like an afterthought when compared to the rest of the space.



Given how much of the concrete base we'd covered up elsewhere this year, it was really letting the side down so we decided to raise it. A quick trip to Wickes to buy a couple of decking boards and some brackets later and we were off.

To get the height and have the ability to secure it to both the sleeper and the existing deck board, we propped up the boards vertically across the end piece. Annoyingly that placed it a few inches above the line of the sleeper but with neither of us being particularly handy with a saw, we settled for keeping the same width of flower bed.



With the boards in place, next came protecting the wood from the soil that would be up against it. We opted for some heavy duty plastic, usually used for preventing weeds from coming through and nailed it to both the new boards and the existing deck.



After the plastic was in place, I dug out the majority of the soil in the bed and ran it through a plastic riddle, which thankfully got rid of most of the awful stuff. How anything had ever grown in there at all is a mystery. With what remained of the existing soil stored in a thankfully empty and tall pot, I mixed it with 5 bags of multi-purpose with John Innes and then came the fun bit - planting my birthday presents from the garden centre. Add some ground cover to match the sleeper bed and a couple of off cuts to hide the sleeper whilst you're sat on the deck and we're almost done.



There are a couple of patches where I need to add more ground cover to reach the level of the concrete, but I'm pretty chuffed with it.

 

Watered the garden this morning i have a invasion of little black fly's hundreds/thousands of them they only appear to be on certain plants, any ides what they are please.

 

May be Pollen beetle

 

Thank you Jiffy yes that's them, reading about them probably cutting rape a few miles away and they have blown in.
Pollen beetles/RHS Gardening

 

Martin, they are thunder bugs, they always turn up when it`s hot and muggy. They like yellow best

 

Thanks Tetters there was thousands of them this morning i never noticed one last night, they have dispersed now just the odd ones remaining, they was mainly on the cosmos plants i dead head them anyhow,

I don't use any pesticides just a little soapy water on aphids now and again.

 

Definetley Pollen Beetles as we are inundated with them here in the Midlands now that the rape flowers have died off and only seed pods remain.In our garden they are attracted to anything light coloured be it flowers,window frames or my white sheets hanging on the washing line

Wait until the Thunder flies(Thrips) start they will get everywhere and will make you itch like mad as they don’t arf tickle

 

Thanks Kandy it made sense it being them with the rape connection and them just appearing over night in there thousands, most of my garden is in flower at the moment good for any insect that likes flowers,

Unsure if they do any damage but i will leave them be, i will have to have a drive out to my metal detecting fields if the rape has been cut i will be able to get some detecting done a good pointer for future years

 

Been on holiday for the last 10 days, got back this evening to find our housesitter has been somewhat lacking in the watering department I've lost my sunflower seedlings for the second year running, and the lemon tree that was heaped with blossem when we left is looking decidedly dicey.

In fairness, the watering is a pain: we don't have an outdoor tap, or space for a waterbutt any bigger than 100L. My compromise is to fill the butt via a hose strung out the bathroom window, and then decant that into watering cans, but it is a slow job, and nothing gets as much water as it should. I dream of the day I live somewhere with a proper garden tap

Hope all has been well with everyone else!