WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2018

Busy one for me today. Firstly feeding the garden for the first time this year. Turns out the back garden takes 6 of the Pepsi bottles I filled with Phostrogen (thankfully I thought ahead and drew a line at the water level when I measured the first time, so I don't need to faff around with the measuring jug anymore) and the front takes 4. Think I'll put a funnel of some sort on this week's shopping list, the rolled up newspaper method gets a little tedious when you're 5 refills in.

Next came riddling last week's purchase, 50L of MPC with John Innes. Managed to find and empty a storage tub that was in the attic, which did the job of holding the soil but annoyingly was too wide for the riddle to stand on top. After a little persuasion, in the form of a cup of tea and some biscuits, I managed to rope somebody in to hold the riddle whilst I did the pouring. I'm sure the result is nowhere near as fine as the seed & cutting stuff out there, but you could definitely tell the difference once we were finished.

If the rolled up newspaper method for the Phostrogen was tedious, the third thing on today's to-do list turned that up to 11 - moving the begonias from the propagator cells into pots. Goodness knows how much worse it would have been had I not put the soil into a container earlier, that allowed me to scoop it up with the pots themselves.

To say I was ambitious in thinking 40 pots would be enough would be the understatement of the century, as I only made it through 3 of the propagator cells (and one of those was the least populated of the 12). If I ever allow myself to go through this again, I think a different method for sowing the begonia seeds is definitely in order.


Last but not least, another project has popped up after the wind saw to one of the enormous shrubs/bushes that were already here when we moved in. The garden looks a lot bigger now, so we want to fill the space left behind but not too much. A little bit of measuring was as far as we got today, plant shopping can wait for another day.

 

Oh i was pleased today when i woke... was out at 7am and beautiful temps at 56F, so come dinner i went outside on the front sorted cutting back the Fuchsias as new shoots are showing, general clean up and removing dead leaves and the was burning me up ....so that topped it for me...got the deck chair out down the back, unwrapped the parasol and relaxed before carrying on down the back

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Feeling rather unmotivated in the garden for the time of year pending more cold weather putting me off doing much work on the lawn or garden but for pulling weeds out. I have done a little bit today.

A new Garden centre opened up yesterday just down the road so ventured out a dinner time to have a nosy, it on the small side some things are very expensive and other bits reasonably priced. Nothing there what can't be bought else where especially when there is 8+ supermarkets / discount stores plus another very expensive / rude GC within a mile radius all sell plants and other gardening related stuff. A can't see it lasting to long it way out of the way up a hill, I hope they do well but will have to wait and see. Handy for me also with it just be down the road.

Walking back home with the sun shining with just a Tshirt on ( and trousers don't want to give the wrong impression ). Had a mooch around the garden inspected a few plants if any signs of growth yet. Turned the top bit of the compost heap which I will be emptying soon for the GH border etc. Mulched and feed the rhurbarb. Started to attack some couch grass but noticed it coming from next door so weed killed. Check the canna's one got a shoot on, the other canna taking its time the rhizome still firm so a waiting game like everything else.

Potted up a basket for my sister with new strawberry runners, I getting rid off all my old strawberries, I am waiting on a delivery. Drilled holes in 6 plastic troughs and pottted one up with the few strawberry plants I want Cambridge favourite.

 

I buy pots of begonia in 7cm pots from the Garden centre, normally there is 80 plants per pot but last year I got 120 out of one. I pot mine up in 40 cell trays they don't like sitting in damp / wet compost, vulnerable to botrytis / grey mould. It keep you busy pricking all them out

 

I spent another day clearing debris from the garden and was hoping to finish but - I discovered another area of dead bracken I've been raking off was interwoven with brambles, that slowed things down having to cut them all out. They're now cleared so back to raking tomorrow.

 

What a gorgeous day for gardening
Been out nearly all day, taking advantage of the extra hour and loving every minute
I finished digging a new border, approx 4x 1.5 metres, battling more bl&&dy bindweed and creeping buttercup along the way. I rediscovered a corner after some serious pruning. And attacked a patio area that was a dumping ground. Feeling suitably smug
Just hope I can walk tomorrow

 

I wish that had been what I found Loki. I'm gradually exposing the lids of my sunken septic tanks.

 

That's awful, what can you do about them? If anything? I thought weeds where bad

 

Do about what Loki? The tanks or the bracken/brambles?

No offence meant but every time I read your username I think of this chap....your namesake and one of my son's dogs.

 

He is adorable
I'm a she not a he but wish I was that cute

 

btw, I meant the tanks

 

Look at those eyes

 

It's like he's waiting for permission to eat his favourite snack but being ever so obedient

 

There's nothing I can do about the tanks as they are huge. I can't plant around them as they are not only sunk into the ground but that corner of the garden sits 3ft lower than the rest. Planting would inhibit access to them. I'll take pics tomorrow to give you an idea - nothing offensive to look at as they're modern tanks.