What Jobs Are We Doing In The Garden Today 2019

Finally got my greenhouse lined with bubble plastic ready for heating. Does anybody have any handy tips to make the job easier? It was a bit iffy on the stepladder doing the roof

 

Yesterday was first proper day back from a trip to NYC - seems things have been quite wet here! Have been desperate to get back out in the garden but things have been a struggle as I had a very nasty fall in Central Park and hurt my knees and my foot quite badly and struggling to walk!

Took the opportunity to dig up two epimedium plants that had been baked into the outside border. They came out easily. Planning on dividing them and replanting somewhere else (I hadn't planted them in their original location (previous owner), but they hadn't flowered at all since we moved here. I'm hoping dividing and relocating will help.

I also cut back a rose (probably a little early I know) but it was covered in black spot so thought I may aswell attack it now.

I also dug up a yellow rose from the front garden and moved it into the back border as I've got another yellow rose in the back (the gardeners world rose).

I've decided on a new colour theme for the front garden this year - purple and orange. Seen lots of examples/pictures and it looks great. I've already divided some Geum Totally Tangerine and ordered some more allium bulbs.

We are currently deciding whether to stay at our house or sell it. We may be taking it off the market (we had 'sold' it but the buyers wanted us to sign and get out by the end of December - totally unrealistic as we haven't found anywhere yet). I think instead we might be putting planning permission in to put fencing round the front garden so we can use it without the nutcase neighbour bothering me anymore. So I'm looking forward to doing some garden redesign in the front. Fingers crossed on the fence planning app.

Today I'm going to plant back in some of the iris siberica that I divided yesterday. I also need to go up to my lotty and think about what I can do to protect all of my divided plants from severe frosts quickly - some kind of sheeting I can quickly fold over the raised beds?!.

Also going to make my own suet/mealworm/seed fat blocks as the ones I bought the other day were absolutely rubbish compared to the ones I've made myself.

 

It's been nice today so tidied up the edge of a border to plant some more polyanthus, maybe tomorrow.

 

ha ha @ARMANDII if only that was the case then maybe I wouldn't have felt the pain!! I slipped on some cobbles/tree roots at the bus stop on the edge of the park waiting for my "citysightseeing" bus to take me back to the hotel. Unfortunately I had my mobile phone in my hand when I fell, and because the phone smashed and my e-ticket for the bus was on my phone I couldn't get on the bus to get home. Luckily a man in the church opposite to where I fell came and helped me and told me how to get back to the hotel using the tube. My knees are black/blue/yellow and it has aggravated my plantar fasciitis :( Having to take it steady. It must have looked so funny to watch - the whole fall felt like slow motion and so many people saw me. If I had seen myself I would have laughed my head off - I tripped, ran and then fell.

 

After planting all the divisions I did yesterday I decided to "service" my Felco no.6 secateurs. Watched a youtube video and then did it myself. Saved £25 and they look like (almost) new!

 

Put my slightly tender plants in a friend's greenhouse at the allotment yesterday. Wasn't pleased to discover that nearly half of my plot was under half a foot of water, couldn't even access my blooming shed!

Planted Achillea 'Lilac Beauty' and Echinacea 'Magnus' near my patio where the soil is more free-draining. The soil is just too waterlogged in the rest of the back garden for my other hardy perennials to go in the ground. They're all in 9cm pots so I'm going to put them on a plant stand outside for the time being. Hope they survive there!

Hope your knees and foot feel better soon @Snorky85!

Nick

 

I don't think Shiney will appreciate a broken back

Already looking forward to Shineyland 2020

 

Had a good go at the front garden:

- removed Marigold, Zinnia, Verbena and Dahlia;
- planted 15 Echinacea, 18 Rudbekia, 50 daffs and 15 tulips;
- cleared those pesky small weeds;
- ripped a massive hole in the knee of my kecks - this is why knee pads are important - left them at the allotment as you do.

Time for a cuppa....