What are we doing in the garden 2025

Wonder what they’d do @lizzie27 if some random vandal took a chain saw to it..?…………

 

They'd kill themselves, it's between 50ft and 60 ft tall!

 

Today I planted a variegated Griselinia to fill a gap in the sloping border alongside my fence. The birds seem to have been moving the bark in this border downwards towards the base in search of food, or making a deliberate attempt to mess up my lawn . I also put a coat of paint on some of the fencing which had lines appearing as the panels have expanded in the heat.

I then set about a task I have been avoiding, removing a large old Dryopteris embedded in some of the soil and sandstone blocks on my bank. It has suffered in the drought and was blocking a pathway I use for accessing the border above. It took a while to remove, with a combination of a spade, a pruning saw and a small pick axe. Some of the sandstone blocks had to be moved to access the roots and then replaced. I then gave the tree fern its weekly feed of diluted seaweed extract and watered the containers.

 

I finally got round to clearing the weeds from the strawberry bed, I've been meaning to get to this for some time. Also gave them a really thorough watering , in spite of a heavy mulch the soil was very hard and dry, thank goodness for a Japanese razor hoe couldn't have done it without.
Watered the rest of the plots and harvesting produce as usual.

 

I got all the groundcover planting [pachysandra] removed around my hydrangea, and it was incredible just how deep the root system was, and how much it had swamped the raised bed, so I'm glad I did it. The hydrangea was struggling a bit, not surprisingly, and hadn't flowered this year. I needed the rest of the bag of manure I had [which was more than half of it] to fill it all in, and it still needs a bit more, so I might get another bag later. I'll clear the other bed too, although it has less in it, and will hopefully be easier to do. I finished my little raised bed for the clem, and it was a right pain to get in to it, because I had to avoid all the little plants I have in the gravel next to it, and also had to try and avoid damaging the sweet peas in there. Took ages! I think I might be able to get the clem in, so I'll look at that today.
Other than that, not sure what else, but maybe turn the compost, as I didn't get around to that, and once I'd filled feeders, deadheaded and done all the wee bits and bobs, it was 5pm, and I'd had enough. It's another cloudier day, so it's ideal for those heavier jobs that I can't do when it's hot. Maybe get that other little bit of hedge trimmed along the boundary too.

 

I have so much to do, I'm not doing anything. I got distracted researching headphones! Jezz, does there need to be so many options? Hrs of my life have evaporated and I'm no further forward.

 

I'm sure that online reviews make it harder. In the past you just compared specs and prices and made a quick decision.

I bought some dog poo bags in order to clear up after the cats that visit my garden, and spent far too long reading the reviews ....

 

Have you looked at the John Lewis website @ViewAhead? They usually provide helpful buying guides as well as products stocked, plus free extended guarantees.

 

Indeed I have, @Plantminded! Have even been in to the store to try a pair. Have narrowed it down, but am still pondering.

I agree, @Escarpment. You read through a dozen reviews and all seems good, and then the next one points out some hitherto undocumented fatal flaw!

Have cut back some of the old Corydalis growth. My Calycosa has powdery mildew, which it has never suffered from before.

 

Dug up half a Japanese anemone and yes I know it will be back and require persistent hoeing off for the nest few years.
Posh people would describe it as "crown lifted", but I prefer pruned, a Holm oak which has taken full advantage of having more light and moisture since some nearby trees were removed a few years ago. All growth below 4 to 5 ft removed and awaiting shredding.

 

My dahlias at the front of the house have powdery mildew normally not a problem with them.

 

Glad it's not just me!

 

More apple and pear trees branches breaking under the weight of the fruit and no rain for months.
Harvested yet more figs and gave loads to a neighbour who is loving them.
Removed parts of plants that love to take over the paths.
Cleared an area on another path that had sow thistle growing.
Potted up an aeonium piece that had fallen off one of the plants in the garden room. Not sure why it broke off.

 

How many fig trees have you got @On the Levels ? Sounds like a forest!
I have a few young figs that I intend to plant out, but wondering whether espalier or fan might make picking easier.
Today, I've been mostly checking for roots on cuttings, repotting things from greenhouse. At least these smaller things can be kept watered - the garden plants are suffering (except alstroemeria Indian Summer which seems to have taken its name as a badge of honour).

 

I've given up harvesting figs, far too many and I only have one tree.
The freezer is full.