WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2019

Went today to quote for reducing a row of the dreaded Leylandii !........only 40' tall!!!!! .
Going to hire a large Timberwolf chipper for a couple of days ; apparently this can process 5-tons of wood per hour , fairly impressive in my opinion .
I'd rather just clear fell the lot and grind the stumps , but access is extremely limited and they are in close proximity to the neighbours bungalow .
I class this as 'extreme gardening' ; would rather be planning and planting a herbaceous border , but I suppose it's Winter work in a fairly 'lean' month of the year .
Tomorrow morning will be staining a large fence , then afternoon brings the ominous prospect of bamboo-root removal !......Nice !

 

@Jack Sparrow I've just finished planting some Daffodil bulbs that I found in the garage. They have sprouted but I've put them in the ground anyway, 50/ 50 chance to grow.

I did this a few years ago with some bulbs I was given and I had Daffodils in full bloom in July . The following couple of years they put up lots of leaves but didn't flower and this year they have buds on . Daffs are quite tough and they might be okay if they are given enough time to adjust and sort themselves out. If they don't, at least you gave them the option to grow. A pot is fine. I feed my Daffs with tomato feed or liquid seaweed once they've finished flowering and I leave the leaves to die back on their own ( the bulbs take nutrients from the leaves ). Good luck with them.

 

On Wednesday Sidney, my last rat, went over the rainbow bridge to join his brothers . Not really in the mood for painting or decorating or gardening. Sat on the bench in front garden and felt sorry for myself. The little birds had followed me and were perched in the trees. They were very subdued, just a few quiet twitters amongst themselves. It's almost as if they knew.

Yesterday I planted the rest of the Daffodil bulbs that I found in the garage. Last year I made a new flower bed down by the boat seat. I covered it over for the winter with 3 layers of weed membrane and was hoping I might be planting in it this year. I didn't dig the new bed, opted to cut grass right back, covered the area with cardboard and hay and then the soil/compost mix. Despite the membrane some of the underlying grass has grown and punched through the membrane. Removed it and re covered with some old carpet. I extended one of the wood piles by the pond. Swept a section of the path.

As I was putting stuff away I saw a coming down the path. I have a feeding station outside the back door. He looked very thin and slightly unsteady. Picked him up and took indoors to have a look. First thing I noticed was strong smell of infection . Part of his lower jaw looked very swollen, weeping blood, pus and clear fluid and he was extremely thin. Took him straight down to the vet. Dave gave him a light GA so we could have a look at what's going on. He has an abscess on his jaw, which has been festering for awhile, possibly from a puncture wound. His front paws are red raw where he's been trying to wipe his jaw. Poor little bean, he's in a bad way. Dave gave him some fluid and a penicillin jab and packed the wound with antibiotic powder. I've got more injections to continue at home. He's got heavy flea burden too, which need sorting. Not sure how good his chances are for recovery. I saw a hog on the camera several months ago who was rubbing his head against the edge of patio slabs, so think it's the same hog. The infection has eaten through into his mouth cavity ( we swabbed quite a lot of pus out last night ). The smell is all the way through the house . He is able to eat and drink though, which is hopeful.

 

Today mild and dry so out and on with the weeding, the mild weather has brought them on a treat.

 

Not a nice week for you lucius . I think animals do "know" these things

Hope the little hedgehog makes it

 

@luciusmaximus So sorry about Sidney It’s heart breaking. We lost our Benny boy last week and the horrid feeling in the stomach is awful. They have such an impact on our lives no matter how big or small they are.

Glad you found the hoggy. With you on his side he has got the best chance he could have.

 

Did some weeding, had 50 snowdrops in the green arrived this morning so i planted them.

 

Planted the 5 pear trees in the front garden ready to espalier. Need to build a framework for them really....job for mr snorks - he likes building bits and bobs.

 

It was 10 degrees this evening and slightly damp. Perfect gardening conditions. I've taken the plunge and planted up my bulb assortment. I didnt really have a choice. They were a present from the wife so I had to something with them. There were far more bulbs than I had bargained for so they didn't end up being planted as neatly as I had planned.

I'm hoping that there will be another 2 or 3 frost free nights before winter kicks in for real. There is snow forecast for early next week.

G.

 

Had to buy birthday present for Nico today....he will be 12 months old next Weds so still under warranty if I decide to exchange him for a younger puppy!! He was the star of the show at a local eaterie earlier....he is a very tactile fellow; everyone seems to want to touch him

 

Hooray - I managed to plant my raspberries I brought from my previous house. The poor things had sat with their bare roots in a plastic bag for far too long. Added some horse manure to try and improve the builders' soil that they are being forced to stand in now.

 

This morning was sunny but windy, so I thought I would do a few things around the front garden. Soon as I got outside the sun disappeared and the wind picked up. Cold enough to make my eyes water when facing into the wind. I lasted around an hour before retiring indoors for coffee and biscuits . I did manage to plant two pots of Snowdrops and two pots of white Daffodils that I bought from hardware store a few days ago. Weeded around the pond area. Cleaned out bird baths.

@Verdun and @Snorky85 it's kind of a strange atmosphere in the house as this is the first time in 28 years that I've not had any rats. I've decided not to have anymore for awhile.

I'm sorry to hear about Benny @Snorky85 . I didn't know you had a third dog. That feeling in your stomach is one I am well acquainted with .

 

So what did you buy him ? And, you wouldn't ...... would you

 

In garden today I've been observing it standing at the radiator in the house .and just thinking what I could be doin.then I went to put kettle on for a cuppa.didn't get much further.but I have made plans!!!!