Watered roses in pots and other newish perennials. Potted up some primroses and red potentillas I dug up yesterday. Not sure what I'm going to do with them.
Food delivery came after work and dinner so I noticed OH had been picking at the ground around the big conifer stump in the front. She started again so I did what I could one handed with a mattock, hatchet, pruning saw and trowel. Not easy with a recovering broken arm and after having my first AZ jab. If I was two handed I'd be using the mattocks better and be able to use my dad's large felling axe that's on lend to us. It's up to 75-100cm wide in places. Stump itself is not very big but it had a large growth at and below the surface. Think octopus with the tentacles as big as the trunk pointing down and out. Something grew out wrong with that tree. Like it's been girdled but the roots became solid wood not individual roots wrapping around the lower trunk.
Anyway, the result of an hour hard work, ok half an hour, was one 20cm+ diameter root cut through by axe and hatchet and saw. It's hard work and we're getting nowhere fast. If I only had two good arms!!
Anyway my OH only started on it again because we've tried to get tree surgeons in but no-one in the area that looks respectable in terms of qualifications will come to see us. Too busy with jobs to even visit us!! We've got two stumps and at least one tree to get rid of, plus we want them to carry out a survey of our numerous trees to see if they're safe or need work being done. That's not necessarily big job but it's not a small one neither we think. They're not even returning our voicemail messages or emails or texts now. So we're going to try and get the huge stump out. It's making the front garden untidy. Everyone looks at it as they pass by. Not helped by it being at waist height for the average person as they walk past right text to it on the pavement. We have to try and get rid so we can get the garden in the front tidy and presentable. Image matters I think when you move into a new house? Don't want to let the side down!!!!
Not much done yesterday, was KO (probably after effect of AZ jab). Just planted morning glory Grandpa Otts seedlings in the ground all along the fence yesterday, the three rhubarb crowns I received, and various Nerine bulbs in pots. Started dead-heading tulips that are already going over.
I was planning on starting sowing seeds straight into the ground but my recent reads are recommending that starting them in trays is still the way to go if I don't want them eaten by birds or slugs or trampled by my crazy dog. I might do half and half and see what happens.
Volunteer day yesterday, good to get back. In the late pm I finished mulching the back garden at home. Probably need to take it a bit more gently today.
I didn't really garden today...did a bit of watering and thinking. But am enjoying my Malus 'Red Obelisk' which is now in full flower in my front garden. People keep stopping to ask what it is. Mind you, it only has this one moment of glory; I quite like its fruit but it gets rather tattered by late summer.
Built a wigwam with hazel twigs and planted the sweet peas I had sown last autumn (after pinching them a few weeks ago already). Started planting some of my cosmos and zinnia seedlings in between the tulips, back-breaking work and stopped after a couple of hours so need to carry on today.
(Yes I know, it's early to plant them out but they have been hardened off in the cold frame for the past 3 weeks, night temps are 4-6 degrees in London, my garden is very protected and a sun trap, and I still have plenty of spare seedlings)
This morning at my in-laws again. Moved a rhodi that was being smothered by the adjoining shrubs (all planted far too close together). Removed and composted a couple of dying shrubs. Cleared a border of all the suckers coming from the garden next door. Weeded. Brought some of my seedlings for them (Nicotiana, Gaura, Digitalis, Cosmos, Morning Glory)
Mostly weeding today, as still too cold to "get on" with stuff in the greenhouse. 🙄 Good job I have something to cheer me up while working, as I love the bright red of these tulips, and the blueberry ripple in the other bed.
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Anyway, the result of an hour hard work, ok half an hour, was one 20cm+ diameter root cut through by axe and hatchet and saw. It's hard work and we're getting nowhere fast. If I only had two good arms!!
Anyway my OH only started on it again because we've tried to get tree surgeons in but no-one in the area that looks respectable in terms of qualifications will come to see us. Too busy with jobs to even visit us!! We've got two stumps and at least one tree to get rid of, plus we want them to carry out a survey of our numerous trees to see if they're safe or need work being done. That's not necessarily big job but it's not a small one neither we think. They're not even returning our voicemail messages or emails or texts now. So we're going to try and get the huge stump out. It's making the front garden untidy. Everyone looks at it as they pass by. Not helped by it being at waist height for the average person as they walk past right text to it on the pavement. We have to try and get rid so we can get the garden in the front tidy and presentable. Image matters I think when you move into a new house? Don't want to let the side down!!!!
I was planning on starting sowing seeds straight into the ground but my recent reads are recommending that starting them in trays is still the way to go if I don't want them eaten by birds or slugs or trampled by my crazy dog. I might do half and half and see what happens.
(Yes I know, it's early to plant them out but they have been hardened off in the cold frame for the past 3 weeks, night temps are 4-6 degrees in London, my garden is very protected and a sun trap, and I still have plenty of spare seedlings)
This morning at my in-laws again. Moved a rhodi that was being smothered by the adjoining shrubs (all planted far too close together). Removed and composted a couple of dying shrubs. Cleared a border of all the suckers coming from the garden next door. Weeded. Brought some of my seedlings for them (Nicotiana, Gaura, Digitalis, Cosmos, Morning Glory)
Good job I have something to cheer me up while working, as I love the bright red of these tulips, and the blueberry ripple in the other bed.
Just about to watch Lincoln City FC
Going to allotment tomorrow to prepare some more beds ready for planting
@purplerallim , garden looks nice , spring bulbs have done well with me , daffs now over
can’t remember having so many late hard frosts