What are we doing in the garden 2025

It’s been windy here today, showing up some imperfections with my hedge pruning yesterday, requiring some fine tuning with secateurs. Having several views of borders from above, across and below, from both the house and garden, makes some tasks easier to delay . With rain forecast later I decided to give some recently pruned or moved shrubs some blood, fish and bone to give them a boost. Sandy soil on slopes needs this occasionally but I don’t use it on grasses or perennials.

 

I missed some bits on one of our hedges yesterday @Plantminded and need to go round to the roadside verge to tidy them up. Ran out of time and enthusiam today as busy doing other jobs, including pruning the hydrangeas. Really miffed with the weather as well, nothing like as nice as yesterday and we're now expecting rain later. To be fair, we really need some of the wet stuff as it's been about 10 days now. I've had to water most of my pots in case the rainclouds just sail on by.

 

Still no rain here... :( Fed the lawn and hose watered.

 

Yes, @lizzie27, a hedge which is not quite right is unsettling, it keeps reminding you and needs to be dealt with quickly .

 

Today, after a check up at the dentist, I rewarded myself with a trip to the garden centre on the way back, and bought a low round Errington Reay planter (daughter is going to pay for it for Mothers' Day). I had to have help to put it in the car and get it out at home as it is quite heavy.
I spent this afternoon going through Ice Alpines website and ordered several (OK, 10) plants to go in it. I probably won't be able to fit them all in, but I have several other alpine bowls which could do with refreshing.

 

We will look forward to planted-up planter pictures, @katecat58.

 

Thanks @ViewAhead, I will try, but I always seem to struggle with posting pictures.

 

After work "foraged some pond edging material" from a nearby field edge.

It might not have crossed everybody's mind, but stones are rather heavy. The current phase focuses on cabbage sized ones, preferably flat or flattish on one side. We got four in today and my shoulder muscles are doing a sort of internal Lambada under my skin. Can't wait for tomorrow!

I also decided to leave Festuca Glauca seedlings (about 7cm tall sturdy-ish clumps) overnight in the cold greenhouse. The night temperature is forecasted to be around 6C, and the Festucas have been daytripping there all week. And they are hardy. And I keep feeling a tad guilty....

Gave a benevolent look at everything else in the greenhouse, there are very promising signs of life on all the overwintered bare root and plug perennials, and the two weeks ago bought Morrison's Clematis are romping away.

 

We are visiting friends. I did an hour tidying and cutting back in their new garden, just to give them a start.

 

Yes I was right after watering 2 hours later the rains did come but then the watering will have helped the rain to move into the soil.

 

Retrained the cordon apples yesterday and tied them back into the taut wire strands. Changed to using soft flexible ties instead of ties with a metallic core as in a couple of places the core had become part of the leader as the tree thickened. Biggest problem was finding a 5.5 mm socket for the fixings - why is it you can never find something specific when you are halfway through a job.

 

I've ordered two 20kg bags of potting grit / horticultural grit.
I've also ordered a lawn aerator. My wife spent hours last year walking up and down the lawn with a garden fork, making holes. This year I'm making the job easier for her.
Or me!!

 

Two reasons for not gardening today, it's tipping with rain and I'm babysitting grandchildren.

 

One reason I’m not gardening today is my back needs recovery time. I am, however, compiling a list of things that need doing, in order of urgency, so when I’m able to be out there, I use the opportunity effectively.