What are we doing in the garden 2025

I think it depends on what paint you are using @CarolineL. I used Cuprinol Garden Shades which is quick drying and contains wax so it repels water. My fence was soaking wet yesterday but dried out overnight for me to start painting today at midday. Tomorrow is going to be dry here too so that will help. Like you, I didn’t want to have to wait until next year.

 

Mrs LS has been forced into removing still-flowering Rudbeckias & Busy Lizzies from her tubs and pots so that she can get on with planting all her bulbs ready for next spring. We then took all the hanging baskets down and dismantled the watering system for another year.

I've drained down the water butts (onto the bamboos) and then turned them upside down. Having lost two in serious freeze-ups (a few years ago) I now don't take any chances. I then pruned the Jasmine yet again (it grows so fast), did some shredding and finally turned the compost and watered it (my heap has a plastic lid so not much rain gets in).

Last job was cleaning my bird seed feeder. I alternate two so the birds don't go without whilst one is being cleaned. I've also now reintroduced the suet balls as the weather's getting colder.

 

Very nice job, @Plantminded, but what have you done with the Acer leaves? They are all gone in the picture. Did you prune the Acer?

I wrapped the tree fern to protect it from the cold that we can expect in the next days. I will leave it as it is over the day but will add an additional layer around the stem.
Last week, the tree fern got frond number 20.

Last Thursday, when we had the last warm and sunny day, I cleaned the backyard from the remaining leaves, and did a job I wanted to do since Autumn: I fixed the pipes by the greenhouse door with screws so that they are not blown away when it's windy.

 

Thank you @simone_in_wiltshire, in the few days between those photos being taken they had fallen from the tree naturally. I just cleared them off the paving, steps and borders, as well as from the crown of the tree fern.

Keep your tree fern cosy .

 

Hi,



The above was at 7 o'clock this morning; it's certainly brighter but sunny is pushing it a bit and I'm about to venture up the mountain to resume my attack on the couch grass which I'm not looking forward to because I dislike feeling cold; I'll have to get used to it if I want to clear the middle meadow before Christmas; I'll try to clear more each day whilst it remains dry but the snow shovel will have to come out; it's cold enough for snow and we usually have snow before Christmas but never a white Christmas?

Kind regards, Col.

 

Hi,

The sun is showing its face and is very welcome; I wish I could wheel the giant blue spruce out of the way though; I've just been working in the shade with a chilling breeze for company; I'm fozen after an hour on my hands and knees on the steep slope.

Progress is slow but steady and I'm looking forward to planting next springtime; I won't plant this year because I dare the couch grass to pop its head up; I've declared all out war against it.

About three years ago I was advised not to rotavate because it made couch grass worse; I've rotavated at least six times since then and I'm pleased I ignored the advice; the rhizomes are coming out in complete short lengths so aren't breaking off; it's a huge help; I strimmed and cleared the couch grass and wildflowers a couple of months ago so the surface is tidy just leaving the digging to get the couch grass rhizomes out; I've found a couple of daffodil bulbs I planted and there will be more but I'll dispose of them; there are enough in the garden; I like daffodils but don't like them looking untidy for so long after flowering; I leave them to die back naturally then they flower again next year.

I can feel my fingers in fact they feel extra warm but my feet are still cold; being 78 I had five vaccinations a few months ago; good job one was against pneumonia?

Hostilities will resume this afternoon after the ceasefire.

Kind regards, Col.

 

Good luck with your mission today @Retired!

 

The sun is out, the sky is blue. So, I thought to myself, I can get a few more leaves in the bin before it is emptied tomorrow.

I lasted 10 mins! It is bitter out there. Must be 15 degrees down from Saturday! Brrrrr!

 

Hi,

What a lovely picture @redstar.

Well done so far @shiney it's a terrible job when chicken wire is grown through; I had the same with my laurels when I replaced the neighbours adjoining fence. Your chainsaw will find any wire you miss so please be extra careful and don't make a lot of noise.

Thanks @Plantminded for your encouragement; I've just come indoors cold again but not as cold as I was this morning;


Guess where I've been in the garden today; look where the shadow lands; yes the sun doesn't shine on me; I've had to close the office curtains so that I can use the keyboard; the sun is streaming in; I must have been bad in a former life? The camera was on full zoom for this picture and pointing up the garden. The shadow exactly covers the section I've been working on today.

Roll on tomorrow I can't wait to enjoy more punishment But I might be rained off?



I don't know how I manage so much fun in my life but I've done well today making better progress.

Now I need one of my violin bows rehairing my luthier has retired and two reasonably close stringed instrument companies don't offer this service but I'm not beaten; it's just another new skill for me to learn.



Kind regards, Col.

 

I thought of you this morning @Retired , I have finally got round to start digging out where the old Raspberries were. Huge fistfuls of bindweed wrapped round the old Raspberry roots, and we get couch grass too.
As you say what fun we have!

 

Hi,

Good luck @Allotment Boy; I'm wondering if gardening is pleasure or punishment; whatever we do in the garden there's something against it. If you are like me and don't like couch grass then may I suggest evicting it sooner rather than later; it sends rhizomes out at a fantastic pace.

I think I'm going to be rained off tomorrow; 20C; no rain and no wind would be nice but I can dream on; I'm in for more hard graft in very cold conditions but I'll win in the end.

Kind regards, Col.

 

All jobs in the garden are a pleasure and the end results give pleasure; if they weren't you wouldn't do them unless paid.