What did you do in your garden today?

[Amateur Gardener]

Spraying herbicide on the kudzu leaves.

 

[Sean Regan]

In the space of two days, our acer palmatums have gone from this on Friday

To this on Saturday.

The larger of the two will need some shaping over the winter, as it's been trying to do its "own thing." It has from time to time over the last thirty years.

As usual, as few of the lower branches and the ends of others, which if they aren't already, will go white over the winter, so they'll get pruned off, I fill half a bucket with the dead wood. But they are always replaced by new growth at the top, so remain healthy.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Packing away outdoor cushions in the gazebo. Bring in the indoor plants before a frost. Getting a headache seeing all the leaves that have dropped soon more work. Picking up any big branches, will light a fire later. Pruning as needed. Empty outdoor water fountain.

 

[Alex Buzoveria]

We have a small garden, we have long so harvested and are now cleaning it. The children wanted to put a gazebo there. We also did the lighting and put garden gnomes.

 

[Amateur Gardener]

Cutting the English Ivy vines. Got skins rashes on my arms to show for it!

 

[Logan]

Cut out the old stems of one of the blackberries and tied in the new, pulled up a lot of brambles.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Riding the big mower around chopping up leaves and sucking up in the bags. Burning them, pile too high for fire to catch up with it all. Had to take a few breaks for fire to burn lower. Tomorrow promises to be a dry day again, will get more leaves burned. Now on to some stuff in the house, and make supper etc. 3PM here.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Cutting the English Ivy vines. Got skins rashes on my arms to show for it!

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View attachment 73052

there is a house plant I bring inside, the leaves on it welt my arms, red lines appear, stay for a day. its the Queens tears. a pretty plant when it blooms. have to wear long sleeves next time I move it.

 

[Sean Regan]

Collected more leaves.
Blew a lot of decaying ones to the back of the long border, to let rot down, keeps the soil right for the acid loving rhodos and azaleas.

Did a "first fix" on a couple of wisterias, stripped the dying off leaves and pruned a few of the longer side shoots. Will do the real pruning between Christmas and New Year as usual. Lots of healthy buds on them.

Need to do a bit more leaf collection tomorrow to completely fill the green bin. It gets emptied every other Wednesday, so just another day before it goes. It will get filled again over the next two weeks as there's more wisteria leaves to come down.

 

[Logan]

Cut out the fruited canes of one Logan berry and tied in the new canes for next year's fruit, have to do it in stages my back can't do a lot of bending these days.

 

[bchanfcb1987]

Another good way to start is to take a long look at your garden a try to picture your finished product. Take into account the hight the plants can grow to, the sun spectrum, and the proximity to a water source. Once you see a place you like take a seat and start your gardening plot plan on paper. This way you can get more detailed and include things that you may forget otherwise. Make sure to include in your plans the proximity of your garden hose or garden hose reel and fixture.

 

[Logan]

Cut out the fruited canes of one Logan berry and tied in the new canes for next year's fruit, have to do it in stages my back can't do a lot of bending these days.

Did the same thing today, the loganberries are slowly spreading but they'll be fine, can't have too many.

 

[Sean Regan]

Too damp to clear any leaves, but I did a bit of "essential equipment maintenance."

I've had one of these cheap Chinese, Kingfisher garden vacs for about five years, they are only about £35 on eBay.

They've a very strong 2,600w motor and are adequate for small gardens like ours.

The problem is that they can't tell leaves from soil, so over time they pick up small amounts of fine damp soil with the leaves which the fan compresses and it sticks all around the fan housing reducing the efficiency. You can dislodge some of it if you poke a screwdriver up where the bag attaches, but not much.

Now there's none of that "No user accessible parts," nonsense, the whole thing comes apart into two halves. (about 20 screws, mind).

So every few months, like this morning, I give it a service which anyone who has one can do, (unplug it first of course). Take the tube off firdt then it's easier to manage.

As you will see there was hell of a lot of soil caked around the internal surfaces and the little flap that changes it from blow to suck was partially jammed.

The motor can be lifted out for better access, but the wires are still connected

It's important after cleaning, to make sure the flap moves freely and locks into either position. (the handle is underneath it)

The motor has lugs on it top and bottom, which fit into both sides of the casing, so you can't put it back the wrong way round.

Just make sure the wires fit back where they should and don't get jammed between the two halves of the casing.

Then a drop of oil on the rear bearing and it's ready for reassembly.

The reduction of power over time isn't that noticeable until it's had a service and you see how much you had lost.

 

[Amateur Gardener]

Spraying Round-Up Quik Pro in the stems of these Four O'Clock flowers.

 

[Logan]

Yesterday took some redcurrant and blackberry cuttings, today it's raining.