What Jobs Are We Doing In The Garden Today 2020

.....and double grrrr....

......vine weevils!!!!!!

 

Weve been busy in the garden again today. Dave's built me some raised beds that we'll carry over to the lotty. They just need another coat of paint. Got my new lotty shed turning up tomorrow! So got that to paint before we assemble it.

I've also been working on the anderson shelter...metal brushing and then rust converting...will be hammeriting it this week.


My little helper has been distracted all day. She obsessively sits looking between the gap between the wall and the fence. Keeping a watchful eye on the nasty neighbours.

 

Today I plan to lift all the tender Fuchsias , I did actually start on them yesterday. Will also no doubt take some cuttings too.....just can't seem to resist!!

So devastated that I had to dispose of my beautiful big Begonias they were utterly stunning with their huge blooms. We received so many comments from passers by on them.
In my post above I said they were v.weevil but to be honest I'm not too certain. Normally I've found them in the soil/ roots of other plants and they were quite big grubs but this time I didn't notice them and it was only when checking the corm/ bulb bit that was left to dry out that I saw tiny grubs burrowing into them...nothing like the normal v weevil size. Could it have been something else????

 

@Upsydaisy vine weevils are the devil incarnate. I HATE them. They have ruined so many of my potted plants over the years. I've tried all sorts to get rid and I've had to resort to the chemical method which does really help. Id be interested to know if it is any other type of bug.

 

Hi Upsy, two other possibilities....if the grubs are really miniscule, they could be larvae of sciarid flies. More like 3mm long, semi-transparent worms? They love damp compost.
The other pest which is getting a hold because of the chopped wood content of current composts is Cétoine dorée (Cetonia aurata, sorry don't know the English name if there is one!). The larvae of this beautiful beetle look exactly like a bigger version of vine weevil grubs. I found 50+ of the darlings in a pot that had formerly contained a beautiful Begonia Isn't gardening fun?

 

OK thanks for the info @Snorky85 and @noisette47 ...I'll definitely look into it. Sad to say that such pests put me off growing susceptible plants again.

 

Just having a break to cook dinner but have lifted about half of the Fuchsias now .....and yes, taken a ton of cuttings.....as we mad gardeners do!!

 

They could have just hatched out.

 

Cut back the michaelmas daisies and dug one clump up,going to plant verbascum and cosmos in its place.
But at the moment I'm going to plant tulips and wallflowers.

 

Taken delivery of the little shed and spray painted it. My back is killing now!

Will now make a cuppa and go and Hammerite the first Anderson Shelter panel.

its a lovely day out there.

 

I've painted the exterior of 2 of the 6 Panels in Hammerite. I've actually really enjoyed painting them-the Hammerite is like painting with black treacle!! I've enjoyed slapping it on