What are we doing in the garden 2025

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@Songbird? I presume from the blank post you didn't do much today.

Nothing here either as the weather's still not good.

 

@Sheal, started a post the other day and it ended up not being relevant. Having said that, no, I haven’t done anything outside either today, too cold and windy.

 

It was still windy but i planted a lot of crocus in-between the polyanthus along the path.

 

I took advantage of the dry morning yesterday to get a decent walk, and then thought I'd tackle the feet of my potting bench /table thing and get it in place. It was still really windy here yesterday but we're used to that, so it's just a question of adapting what you do and where, and dressing accordingly. Still a lot of disruption further north though.
I had to make sure the washing was well pegged on to the whirly, but that paid off too as it was virtually dry by the time I got it in, just as it was starting to get smirry/wet.
The table is now in place, but I forgot that the 6 inch strip nearest the steps, where the left side sits, isn't paved - it's just soil with a light covering of the old gravel. It'll need concreted, but I've pushed a couple of bits of wood in to keep it steady for now. Concrete may have to wait a while as there isn't much dry weather in the foreseeable forecasts, but I'll just play it by ear.
I'd decided to put a couple of castors on the back legs so that I can move it out if/when needed, so I did that, and cleared all the pots etc, then got it pushed in, which was quite awkward as I'd forgotten about the soft bit! I'll do a bottom shelf at some point, but that can wait until next year if weather doesn't suit. Other than that, I moved the big potted dahlia back and cut off all the broken flower stems - which was all of them bar one. That's how it is at this time of year with anything flowering.
No idea if I'll get anything done today, as the forecast is a bit hit and miss again, although it's calmer.

 

Hi,

Thank you Costas @CostasK Stick with your DIY and you'll improve with each completed project; if you choose just one project and however difficult it becomes see it through; it's the mistakes which teach not things already known; I still make many mistakes and can make the same mistake a number of times. Yes it gives a real buzz of achievement to stand back and say did I really do that. My friend David quotes DIY as "DON'T INVOLVE YOURSELF". I like to leave my comfort zone and tackle totally new projects and as yet I've always succeeded. One skill leads to another skill; being scared of starting something new is the largest problem. I once flushed the toilet but had forgotten to connect the connecting pipe from cistern to bowl; using a cloth I mopped up the water wringing the cloth out into the bowl then flushed the toilet again still not having connected the pipe; it's only a couple of months ago I made the new porch window frame 7" too wide. Oh Hum. These days I can put it down to senior moments.

It's forecast 18C today so perhaps I'll make it into the front garden to weed and tidy up; I set out yesterday afternoon to do this but ended up weeding in the back garden; it's strange how things I plant and want to grow do so very slowly but weeds grow whilst I'm looking at them with no input from me.

Well done @fairygirl you're doing well tackling so many jobs at once; top marks to you. I've recently done some concreting but was lucky having it set enough before the next heavy rain; it will soon be the frost and ice season so perhaps as you say better to wait until next year; I used a concrete mix of 6/1 6 x 20mm gravel and 1 x cement giving a general purpose mix.

I feel a violin practice coming on.

Kind regards, Col.

 

Busy day yesterday, did a load of strimming in the awkward bits i had put off at the bottom of the garden and cleared a load of damsons that had come off a neighbours tree. Then i got the leafblower out and blew all the leaves collecting around the drive and outside the gateway for my leaf mulch- folks driving past must have thought i was bonkers blowing leaves onto my property from outside. I spent the rest of the day picking all my borlottis to dry in the potting shed for shelling but some of the youngest were chopped as beans and went with coq au vin last night. Today will be getting all the tomatoes sorted - amazed they have been ripening well this late but its time to finish them and ripenoff whats worthwhile in the potting shed

 

Hi,

What a shame you can't do the work yourself shiney but better to get someone in rather than take chances; those large panes of glass are dangerous to handle especially if on ones own. If the guys doing the job could save the glass perhaps it would be of use to someone else and could be advertised free for collection only on Gumtree?

Is the staging also going into the skip; you're already faced with a big bill so would another £70 make much difference? It's easy for me to say because its not my money.

Have you considered not having a greehouse at all if you have health issues; just an idea; I'm 78 and enjoy pottering around in the gardens; I could buy lots of plants from our local garden center for the price of a new greenhouse.

I appreciate in winter when the sun shines a greenhouse can be very pleasant to be in; your money shiney; your choice and the very best of luck.

I've finally been in the front garden; two full bin bags of debris is the result; it looks better for it. I was surprised to see new growth up by 3" tall from bulbs; I'm unsure what these are but it's nice to see them

Kind regards, Col.

 

@shiney It’s a wise decision to use a professional for the new greenhouse. We used a neighbour for £200 but it didn’t work. We ended up with the official Eden greenhouse installer and spent £175 for getting the job properly finished. However, if the Eden guy would had done it from scratch, that would have been around £500 for 4x6 greenhouse.

 

Hi,

An update regarding the many sirens I heard that I posted about. Sadly a man has been killed by a tree in Upper Cumberworth nearby. The air ambulance helicopter also attended but he died from his injuries. My deepest sympathy goes to his family for their tragic loss.

Kind regards, Col.

 

The problem with Garden Centres, especially the large ones, is that they sell you what they want not what you might want; also it's chiefly plants that are easily propagated and preferably only last a few seasons. They are fine if you want your garden to look like all the others in the street. I've had a greenhouse of one form or another in all my gardens. They've all been worthwhile investments growing tomatoes and peppers in the summer, sheltering delicate plants over winter, starting plants off, propagating and germinating seeds mainly in spring. Also a good place to shelter from the rain and have a cuppa.
Speaking from experience: reusing agricultural glass is a fools errand, it's thin, it's not wonderful quality to start with and after years in the weather the surfaces are full of microcracks. Even if you meticulously clean the glass it's difficult to cut straight and true due to the microcracks.

 

@shiney, have you thought about advertising on Freecycle to see if anyone wants those glass panels? Lots of people can't afford a greenhouse and might be delighted to have a go at trying to make one using your panels?

Such a shame but when you consider the years service it gave you, it is really amazing!