WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2018

Pot noodle pots usually work better! But who wants to admit to eating them?

 

It's in what was going to be my secret garden, which is rectangular area behind the shed and sheltered from the prevailing winds. Completely open to the rain. I realised last year that although the space has lovely dappled light in spring and autumn it is in deep shade during summer. I didn't want to cut down/ back trees to let more light in as would lose privacy.

My heap is waist high now ( I'm 5 ft 10 ins tall ), approximately 4 ft wide and composed of used bunny/piggy hay, some small twigs, fruit and veg and cardboard/paper. I've put bread and uncooked pasta in too - advice online says you can if you don't mind ratties and mice. If you live in an urban area then you might want to omit these foods. I've added a little bit of the pet rats wood pellet litter, its made from untreated wood and the rats eat a vegetarian diet. I use the litter on the wood burner too so didn't have a lot to add to my heap. Will have more once we don't need the fire. I haven't had any fresh garden clippings to add yet. I try to make layers of each material.

Not much seems to be happening at moment, probably due to time of year. Doesn't seem to be generating any heat - I have pushed my hand in a few times. I'm hoping once we get some warm spring sunshine things will start to happen. I have no idea if what I am doing will work. If it doesn't make compost it will likely make a home for the wildlife anyway, so I'll be happy with that. I'd like to make another heap that's in direct sunlight, just need to find the right spot. I would like the kind of compost heap ARMANDII has . Also want to try Shiney's idea of the grass cuttings heap. I tried it a few years ago but realised after reading his reply to me about composting that I didn't make it large enough.

Good luck toppington :).

 

What is this white stuff in my snowdrop pot? I assume it’s mould of some kind. The pot contains multipurpose compost and bonemeal. I keep it damp but not soaking. It’s in the sun virtually all day. Help please.

G.

 

The white mould is quite common with multi - compost, I haven't notice it do any damage to plants. I ruffle the top layer of compost when it start bugging me

 

Half day off work this afternoon so had a bit of a potter round the garden doing odd jobs and making a list of things that need doing in the next few weeks. The hen house is decidely worse for wear this winter; we're patching it up to get through but I suspect a new purchase will be necessary soon. I've half an eye on one of the plastic Omlets, but not sure the budget will stretch to that...

 

Not done much gardening of my own in the past couple of weeks. Done a few little jobs for mum - levelled some stone flags and pointed them - made a trellis for the top of the fence - dug out a concrete post with a ridiculous amount of cement / bricks attached to it.

Lifting the concrete post and falling funny resulted in my feeling rather with a big bruise on my bum . Manged to get some more seeds sown though - agastache golden jubilee - cephalaria gigantea - Cobea mix / alba - rhodochiton ( purple bell vine ) and some Verbena.

My pelargoniums are germinating as well

 

As promised, a photo of the log store I finished making from various scrap timber yesterday.

Those of you blessed with DIY skills look away now, it's not a pretty sight.

 

There's nothing wrong with that Trunky, it has a rustic look and blends into the background nicely.

 

You've got plenty to do Aramdii. Lupins never last long here, unless there protected before flowering they don't get chance and as soon they've finished flowering the slugs demolish them anyway.