What are we doing in the garden 2025

So, today is going to be a test of my resolve. Do I stand firm and let the -2 temps forecast for tonight take a couple of very large osteospermums ... or do I weaken and lug them into the garage? Even with a wheeled trolley, the effort really hurts my back, as I have to manoeuvre them on and off it, and they are too big now to fit round the car, so that would have to stay out. (I've had it 13 yrs and it has never spent a night ungaraged.). Last winter, I ended up going through the whole rigmarole on about 30 occasions, erring on the side of caution if the forecast was for below 3 degrees. I have cuttings, so all would not be lost if I just fleeced them and hoped, but it feels all wrong to have nurtured them for yrs and then just abandon them.

 

That's a tricky one @ViewAhead

I think I would be a bit tough and just fleece them rather than risk hurting my back. And if they didn't make it, I would probably replace them with something hardy.

Moving plants in and out in the cold is not ideal (for the gardener), so I am trying to minimise that personally.

 

@ViewAhead - my opinion is valueless, but I would mulch, fleece, cover with an inverted pot - anything to avoid that sudden wrench that can happen when your muscles are cold. Once that occurs, you could be ages recovering. And if you have cuttings, then you have fallback.

 

I can't be bothered shifting potted plants either, but I have one dahlia that will need moved today. It's far too vulnerable left where it is, even if I protect it. There's no chance of them surviving if left out anywhere here. I have a sack barrow which I use for shifting stuff @ViewAhead , but it's now rusted and falling apart. If you had one of those it would be easier as you can shove the edge of the shelf part underneath the pots. I've had back problems for over fifty years, so I try not to lift stuff 'manually', and I have a lot of larger pots. I'd move the car if I was you, and just use a cover for it when it's frosty, so that it's easier to get stuff into your garage.
It didn't clear up yesterday, just wet/sleety, so I went and did a bit of shoping for new warm socks after my walk [ and why do they think women always want pink for everything ?]
My life is one long party....
Nothing much will happen out there today I reckon, as the ground's frozen. We missed the snow - all just north of us, but we have ice instead. However, the sky is clear, so I might manage a couple of things that don't require getting into the ground itself. Birds to feed and ice to break on the pond first though.

 

Hi,

About an inch of snow on the front handrail this morning but mostly now slush; a pat on the back from me to the Met Office; they actually got the forecast right; rain is forecast for today with a sweltering 4C; nothing doing in the garden but I might water my two indoor plants if I can stand so much excitement.

I did my usual 180 exercises at 7 o'clock so the bloods going round nicely.

Kind regards, Col.

 

We always say up here that it isn't proper winter weather until the snow gates are shut on the Cockbridge to Tomintoul road are shut.
They are today.

That's agreat pity @shiney. I only have a small growhouse -minus 5 in it just now, and that can also be a problem because cold gets trapped just as easily as heat. I have to double up the protection if I keep anything iffy in there. It really only helps keep rain/sleet/snow off plants.

 

This year I gave in with two tall large pots near the front door, that have dahlias in them over the summer, took the dahlia tubers out of them and left the pots there. Dahlias are in the greenhouse now, pots have been replanted with miniature daffodil bulbs and cheapo violas so they look green at the moment.
For years these pots have been carted up and down in the wheelbarrow after planting up.

 

I think I will do that. I've got a pain in my arm today as well, which would make it even trickier. (Days without aches and pains seem elusive at the moment. Inevitable once you reach the age when even the gov concedes you are too old to work, I guess. )

 

Watching the snow fall...

 

Nothing at the moment, the ground is too wet to stand on.

 

I'm also waiting for the ground to dry out a bit before painting some more fencing. The temperature needs to be at least 5C, so tomorrow looks like a better day to do it. I'll have a short walk instead. I don't enjoy balancing on a sloping border with a 5L can of paint anyway .

 

Hi,

A pretty good day today; the new digging fork and even both gardening books arrived at dinner time; I was confident Evri would deliver the fork as stated but the last two deliveries by Parcel Force arrived not on the stated day; I expected a delay again so I was very pleased indeed; one out of three delivered by Parcel Force on the day stated is poor service; I'm pleased parcels can be delivered to my safe place otherwise I'd have lost two days waiting in frustration.

I've baked another batch of fruited scones too as a bonus.

It turned into a beautiful sunny but bitterly cold day and no rain as yet. Things are improving at last?

Definitely no gardening though; BRRRR.

Kind regards, Col.

 

We had the same as you @Songbird . All gone again now but bitterly cold wind. . I should have gone to Capel Manor today but I'm not that mad anymore. I have moved some smaller and medium sized pots to the greenhouse , but as posted before the Lemons are far too big and heavy for me to move now. Hence the ritual of building them their own lean too frame and re-erecting it every year.