WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2018

Whilst cutting front lawn a neighbour ( the very one I met recently and promised to help revamp her garden) asked if I would dig out a shrub she no longer wanted so I said I would do it right away.

Turned out to be winter honeysuckle....lonicera purpusii winter beauty I think. 10 or 12' high and as much across!!? Ok, I thought. Manageable! However it was planted in gravel covered membrane, my most hated garden product. Couldnt get spade in through the roots and membrane, the roots had penetrated the membrane as well as run across it. Used scissors to cut membrane, secateurs and loppers to sever the roots before, eventually, accessing the spreading root system.

Anyway, job done but it would have been a much more simple and less arduous job without the membrane.

The membrane didnt prevent roots growing through it, there were lots of annual weeds growing on the top of it so

I will be returning in a couple of weeks or so to dig in compost, dried manure etc. in preparation for planting something else. However, membrane will not be used

 

Whilst in the process of numerous renovations, today was the day where I needed to relocate a goodly number of plants in order to make way for scaffolding/reveals/brickwork/plumbing etc., etc.,
the time is ripe for relocating shade loving plants to areas that would predominately be in shade, but which, due to summer lighting, may otherwise have scorched.
Those which adore a shadey space are now in situ

 

Another go at the laurel hedge which is encroaching from our neighbour. We have a 5 metre platform which makes the job easier. I'm at the bottom moving the branches, some of which have diameters of 20cm. Our neighbour said we could put them at the bottom of her garden so we've had fun and games throwing over the spoils. I don't think she realised how high the pile was going to get and we're only a third of the way along. The hedge is 30 metres long and was over 5 metres high.
Not the sort of gardening I enjoy but once it's at a managable height it should make cutting it much easier. Last autumn we topped the native, deciduous hedge of the other side of the garden and it's looking much better and lighter now.
Apart from that I've been "fiddling" in the greenhouse and garden.

 

Nowhere near as arduous as alana's huge hedge but lots of deadheading.....hundreds and hundreds of spent helenium flowers, in return for masses of flowers all summer and now. A price worth paying . Against usual advice (but it works for me) I divided a potted helenium. It will establish well before the cold weather arrives
Didnt pick beans yesterday so there is a lot to pick later.
Planted blue anemone blanda corms......very underrated but beautiful in spring.
Took cuttings of Salvias ....Amistad, Cacalifolia, Embers Wish and Leucanthemum ....
Picked up 50 litre bags of compost from Asda at £1.25 a bag. Doesnt need to be the best quality at this time of year but it looks reasonable
It is hot ....very pleasant
Update: picked all the beans, several pounds....Some to give away, some to freeze, some to eat today.. Although they prob will still crop I have pulled them up. Plenty of beans, the haulms added to the compost heap and a clearing up job done

 

Hi all, sorry not been around lately....been too busy!! The big garden project is nearly complete! Made a pond....new greenhouse is fab, got some huge raised beds which I will be needing some advice/inspiration on what to plant!

 

Looking good there snorky

 

Very nice indeed Snorky, quite posh ... but not unexpected in your area! I used to live in Whitchurch, then moved to Upton so (total of 23 years) so very familiar with the area. Love it around there.

 

Lovely to see your garden projects @Snorky85 - lots of work has gone on in your garden and plenty to come. Bricks and works almost complete, now you can get on with the best part - planting plans.
So great to have water in the garden. Mine is lacking water now, due to two pond failures in the past but I'm thinking of a small, above ground pond this time.

 

Jobs in the garden? with seven, 6 week old puppies? Cleaning up after them and doing nothing else, the plants are on their own.

 

Looks amazing @Snorky85 well done.

 

What breed of puppies have you got Vince have you got any pics please?

 

Did some more weeding and found a dead hedgehog on the lawn. Turned it over and all the soft bits had gone. Looks as if it was dead for some time. Burried it in the garden.