What are we doing in the garden 2025

Did some dead heading and then ......it rained, but not for long. Carried on to prune back plants that as always want to grow over the paths. Picked some pea beans, still more to come.
Carried on removing the dead willow/ivy in case a fencing company will end up replacing the 40 year old fence.

 

Had a potter.

Picked up a bit of detritus deposited after yesterday's wind. Raised my Delta Sarah fuchsia off the ground as the stems were trailing on it. Won't be stable in the breeze so it is a very temporary solution. Watered a few thirsty things.

 

I emptied out an old wooden trough, sitting on an equally old table, which had previously held strawberries. Unfortunately I didn't take into account that woodlice like hiding in old wooden troughs so they nibbled all the strawberries. Another good idea that wasn't!

The trough and table can go to the tip and I'll use the ground underneath to extend the nearby raspberry bed.

 

I trimmed the front of the Griselinia hedge in the raised border near my fence, leaving the top as I want it to get a bit higher. I then cut back the three hardy geraniums in the border, removed a struggling grass and moved a Heuchera to a sunnier location in the border opposite. I added a couple of divisions of Nepeta plus a yellow leaved Vinca which will trail down the sandstone walling and help to bind the soil above.

The recent wind and rain had made some of the young stems of one of my Buddleias sprawl over other plants so I trimmed them back. I also removed a Verbena bonariensis which was top heavy and sprawling, filling the space with a Nepeta which is about to flower again after I cut it back last month. I then moved another Heuchera to a sunnier location, tidying up the old flower stems and browned leaves. The red leaved Heucheras seem to prefer more sun in my garden, despite the sandy soil. I then added a mulch of compost around all the plants I had moved and watered them.

 

Nothing much done yesterday apart from in the shed, and deadheading most of the henryi lily. There's only a few buds still attached. The Ligularia was a bit wrecked too. The large Dahlia wasn't bad considering it got knocked over twice.
I'll hopefully get a few bits and pieces done today as it's to be decent, although still windy. Just more normal wind though! I've got a few plants that could be put in, and some cuttings to pot on. Toms and sweet peas can get a feed.
Bird feeders need filled - again. I can barely keep up with them just now. Greedy little sods

 

The wind of recent days has dried my hanging baskets faster than i can keep pace with but i am really pleased with how they have fared this year. The lemon verbena has been great too and Mrs B has made some lovely cake using lemon verbena sugar , i think i will drop a hint about some cake , wish me luck…

 

I managed to water the greenhouse and pick up some windfalls. The tomatoes look as if they have powdery mildew and I spotted some blossom end rot on one tomato.
I also gave my dwarf apple tree a hefty prune, masses of apples on it which need another 2/3 weeks to ripen fully, when the wasps move in to try each apple. I will give it a lighter, thinning prune in Jan/ Feb. I also gave my new Morello cherry a very light shaping prune, I want it to be a fan trained tree against a wall.
I tied in the sweetpeas again. They are growing really well now, OK the flowers will be late but I do not mind.
Folks, I picked my 2nd pea! From 40 odd plants, I stood in the sun and ate the peas raw, what a shame there were not more. I heard on the radio this morning the commercial pea crop is 50% down this year so that was a small comfort to me. I am not alone in my misery.
When I checked the runner beans I found embryo beans forming, the kale had been stripped back to skeleton rib cages, absolutely decimated. I have 1 courgette set and growing.
I cut 7 stems of gladioli to put indoors, my 2nd picking, I was amazed to see the flower spikes appear as I planted them last year and left them in over the winter, usually that is it, one flowering then if I am lucky, one or two spindly stems the following year before they disappear altogether.
Dug a 2nd pot of Jazzy new potatoes, I am going to leave the tiny ball bearing potatoes in the pots until next year, I have done this before accidentally and have had a small crop the following year.
No wonder I slept well last night.

 

I fed my toms and sweet peas and filled those bird feeders again. Apart from that, I spent more time in the shed and it's looking much tidier, and gives me more room to - well, add more stuff....
Another small shelf to put up, and I have a few cleaned out paint pots which will hold all those bits and bobs that have nowhere to go, but you might need one day. Painted a couple of pots ,and did a lot of those little jobs that always get put off.
I got the bigger stepladder out to paint the little bits of timber on the shed roof, which is quite tricky, but got it done.
One of the little collared doves was sitting/roosting in the conifer beside the shed while I worked. Didn't seem too bothered by my faffing around. He/she stopped me getting the loppers to cut off a dead bit of branch while I had the ladder out, but I'll get that today - hopefully.

Not sure what'll get done today. Maybe that small shelf. I have a load of stuff to take to the tip early afternoon -hedge clippings/prunings etc. Once it dries up, and after I've had a walk, I'll have a look...

 

It is always very satisfying to do all those little jobs that have been left and left.

 

Volunteer day at Capel yesterday, we cleared an area in preparation for some new Nandina plants, but we couldn't put them in as the HG hadn't got one of his team to bring the trailer load of compost we asked for
No point in planting them without it as the ground is like dust. As it's on a slope no good just watering either as the "soil" would just wash away!!
Back at home watered the pots in the front garden. Allotments today.

 

Picked some damsons and started them for wine.
Picked yet more figs. Never had so many (mustn't grumble!). Too many to eat and no room in the freezer. Searched in the larder and cupboards and found a few jars so have bottled quite a few now.
Picked some swiss chard that had self sown from last year.
Managed to collect some rain water from one of the water butts for the orchids and carnivorous plants.
And as it is overcast got the hose out and watered what needed to be watered.
The fruit trees in the orchard are suffering and branches are breaking but there is a limit to what you can water.

 

@On the Levels how do you bottle your figs please? Do you steam the bottle when full and then seal? Is it in sugar syrup? Previously I've just made jam and frozen. Though @Adam I plan of dehydration sounds a space saver

 

I got several things done yesterday, including removing the bit of conifer- along with a few more larger bits while I was there, but needed a saw. Unfortunately, there was a bit behind me that I missed! Fortunately, I reached that with the smaller ladder. Some more painting done in shed, and the cheapo shop has lots of paint at a very reduced price, so I might go and get some today, as it's a murky, damp overcast day anyway. That'll give me plenty, plus some for jobs in the house.
I'd resown a couple of little bare spots in the grass a few days ago [where I'd accidentally dropped a lump of weed 'n' feed ] but I might sprinkle the rest of the seed across the grass as it won't keep well anyway, and the conditions are ideal for doing it, although it's a bit windy again.
Other than that, not much unless it clears up. I have an Iris sibirica I could plant though.

 

Yesterday I pruned Buddleja fallownia and this morning B salviifolia, now I just have shred this lot and then deal with the shreddings and stack the bigger bits.
I did find a rooted layer of Berberis graciipes which can be moved to a permanent home this autumn.

 

@CarolineL The figs are washed and dried carefully. Then the stalk removed. I cut them different ways this time. In circles for some (2 jars worth) and then in segments for others (4 jars worth). Packed into the jars and placed on double baking paper on an oven tray in a cool oven (160 degrees) for about 30/40 mins. Don't allow the jars to touch each other. The figs shrink so need to "overflow" the jars and have one that can be used to top up others. Then taken out of the oven and pour syrup over them. Add a wax disc and put on the lid.
Obviously the jars will be hot so care needed.
They do discolour.
Will have to do some more as we collected another huge bowl full this morning. Thankfully our son is coming tomorrow so he will go home with a nice harvest of figs and gages.