MiniOrchardDude
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What did you do in your garden today?
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Sean Regan
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I did the front garden.
Pruned back the azaleas, rhodo and viburnum where they hang over the little curtilage wall above the pavement (with garden shears!) Only about six inches and I evened them up as the viburnum grows out further than the rhodo or azaleas.
This was how it was in May, they had put on a bit of growth since then. They always recover, I do it every year.
Mowed the lawn and gave the whole border a go over with the vac.
Pruned some spikey bits on the lollipop acer. Weeded the area between all the planting and the low wire fence between ours and next door's garden.
Then had to wait until my wife went upstairs for a sleep, before I could get the ladders out (she doesn't like me using them now because of my age), so I could prune the wisteria on the pergola on the back of the house. I had to get up to it in three places to prune off huge long new branches and reduce the foliage at the extreme right hand end above the main trunk where it tends to bunch.
I also removed branches that wanted to grow towards the flat roof of the lounge. I filled the green bin with what I pruned off. I also cleaned out the gutter. I got everything cleaned up and away before she came down again, she's none the wiser what's been done.
This was how it was at the end of July, it had put on a lot of growth since then.
Pruned back the azaleas, rhodo and viburnum where they hang over the little curtilage wall above the pavement (with garden shears!) Only about six inches and I evened them up as the viburnum grows out further than the rhodo or azaleas.
This was how it was in May, they had put on a bit of growth since then. They always recover, I do it every year.
Mowed the lawn and gave the whole border a go over with the vac.
Pruned some spikey bits on the lollipop acer. Weeded the area between all the planting and the low wire fence between ours and next door's garden.
Then had to wait until my wife went upstairs for a sleep, before I could get the ladders out (she doesn't like me using them now because of my age), so I could prune the wisteria on the pergola on the back of the house. I had to get up to it in three places to prune off huge long new branches and reduce the foliage at the extreme right hand end above the main trunk where it tends to bunch.
I also removed branches that wanted to grow towards the flat roof of the lounge. I filled the green bin with what I pruned off. I also cleaned out the gutter. I got everything cleaned up and away before she came down again, she's none the wiser what's been done.
This was how it was at the end of July, it had put on a lot of growth since then.
big rockpile
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I watered and ordered Tiger Lilly bulbs and Daffodil and Tulip bulbs.
big rockpile
big rockpile
Sean Regan
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The result of my work on Tuesday.
This is the wisteria is the one I thinned out, given that I practically filled the green bin with what I took off there's still a lot of foliage that will die off, but not until the end of October.
There's some spikey fronds from the pergola on the side of the garage. I'll tie them down so they "cascade."
In the front garden the "lollypop" acer has some branches at the top which are "bolting," They're annoying me. I'm going to get out the four-section Iadders I have that I rarely use, you can make into a platform about four foot high. It has a couple of steel sheets you put over the middle two sections so it's quite steady. I can then reach them with my telescopic pruner.
The results of my pruning of the acers, rhodo and viburnum that were hanging over the "pavement."
We still call it that although ten years ago the big concrete paving slabs were removed by the council and replaced with tarmac. The reason was because as the road is so narrow, people with two cars kept putting one of their vehicles, "two wheels up on the pavement," rather than have two cars one behind the other on their drive. The weight causing the slabs to crack. If you have two cars parked correctly opposite each other, you can not get a truck to pass between them. The problem with the tarmac, is that it attracts moss which can be slippery, so I try to keep it clear.
United utilities made a good job installing our water meter three years ago.
This is the wisteria is the one I thinned out, given that I practically filled the green bin with what I took off there's still a lot of foliage that will die off, but not until the end of October.
There's some spikey fronds from the pergola on the side of the garage. I'll tie them down so they "cascade."
In the front garden the "lollypop" acer has some branches at the top which are "bolting," They're annoying me. I'm going to get out the four-section Iadders I have that I rarely use, you can make into a platform about four foot high. It has a couple of steel sheets you put over the middle two sections so it's quite steady. I can then reach them with my telescopic pruner.
The results of my pruning of the acers, rhodo and viburnum that were hanging over the "pavement."
We still call it that although ten years ago the big concrete paving slabs were removed by the council and replaced with tarmac. The reason was because as the road is so narrow, people with two cars kept putting one of their vehicles, "two wheels up on the pavement," rather than have two cars one behind the other on their drive. The weight causing the slabs to crack. If you have two cars parked correctly opposite each other, you can not get a truck to pass between them. The problem with the tarmac, is that it attracts moss which can be slippery, so I try to keep it clear.
United utilities made a good job installing our water meter three years ago.
Sean Regan
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I got into the acer in the front garden this afternoon, pruning off branches at the top that had "bolted."
Not an easy job.
Fortunately, my wife bought me this around twenty years ago, as even then, she didn't like me going up ladders.
It's quite versatile, but extremely heavy, so I rarely use it. I have two pairs of much lighter but shorter extending ladders.
You can use it as a full length ladder, it's very strong.
Like this if you are decorating. Or if you need a stable platform anywhere.
Or as I used it mostly, as a tall stepladder. You have to attack the tree from different sides as it's quite wide.
I used my Barnel telescopic pruner, mostly at its full extension.
I could have left until the winter when it gets around six inches taken off it all-round. It's easier to see what needs pruning when there's no leaves on it. But it was annoying me, as I could see all the "spikes" as I was driving up the road on my way home from anywhere.
That's it for now.
Not an easy job.
Fortunately, my wife bought me this around twenty years ago, as even then, she didn't like me going up ladders.
It's quite versatile, but extremely heavy, so I rarely use it. I have two pairs of much lighter but shorter extending ladders.
You can use it as a full length ladder, it's very strong.
Like this if you are decorating. Or if you need a stable platform anywhere.
Or as I used it mostly, as a tall stepladder. You have to attack the tree from different sides as it's quite wide.
I used my Barnel telescopic pruner, mostly at its full extension.
I could have left until the winter when it gets around six inches taken off it all-round. It's easier to see what needs pruning when there's no leaves on it. But it was annoying me, as I could see all the "spikes" as I was driving up the road on my way home from anywhere.
That's it for now.
Last edited:
big rockpile
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I bought a nice Ladder my Son said he didn't like it but guess who has it.
So far I picked Peppers, Okra and Green Beans.
It's Hot and Humid and supposed to rain so my day is done.
big rockpile
So far I picked Peppers, Okra and Green Beans.
It's Hot and Humid and supposed to rain so my day is done.
big rockpile
Oliver Buckle
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We have a leylandii type bush at the front which is pruned to a circular pyramid and does just that, I have to tie a plank to the top of my step ladder and lean it against it to get to it the missus is certain I am going to die when I do
Black_Thumb
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Not much done today except for cleaning up lawn furniture and chasing down one of my grills. We had an AMAZING electrical storm last night consisting of non-stop lightning and thunder for probably three hours, torrential rainfall, high winds, and some occasional hail. The wind snapped one of my patio umbrellas in half, blew my covered grill around on the driveway, blew down the fence gate to one of my raised beds, tipped over two other umbrellas on the deck, and tipped over multiple plants in planters on the deck. I sat outside watching it last night for about 40 minutes before the rain started and it was incredible!! We had the super loud thunder that shakes the entire house. I love that!
When I woke up this morning, I went outside and noticed two legs sticking out from under my house with ruby slippers on the feet. There was also a yellow brick road nearby. I think the winds were a bit fierce overnight.
We did manage to stand up all the plants and umbrellas that got blown over last night. None of the plants were ruined, thankfully. The wind tipped them over and so the sideways rain was actually hitting the bottom of the planters, so we didn't lose much soil to washout from the rain either. I was actually quite surprised.
My wife and I did manage to team up on the bed I'm building. I completed construction of the headboard and sanded it all the way down to 400 grit, and then she stained it. She also stained the side nightstand portions as well. We should be done with it all within probably five days or so. We have friends coming in seven days, so the timing will be perfect. Once they leave, we are opening up our basement as an Airbnb, so we're looking forward to that!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!
When I woke up this morning, I went outside and noticed two legs sticking out from under my house with ruby slippers on the feet. There was also a yellow brick road nearby. I think the winds were a bit fierce overnight.
We did manage to stand up all the plants and umbrellas that got blown over last night. None of the plants were ruined, thankfully. The wind tipped them over and so the sideways rain was actually hitting the bottom of the planters, so we didn't lose much soil to washout from the rain either. I was actually quite surprised.
My wife and I did manage to team up on the bed I'm building. I completed construction of the headboard and sanded it all the way down to 400 grit, and then she stained it. She also stained the side nightstand portions as well. We should be done with it all within probably five days or so. We have friends coming in seven days, so the timing will be perfect. Once they leave, we are opening up our basement as an Airbnb, so we're looking forward to that!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!
Sean Regan
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It keeps raining so I've done nothing today apart from pruning off the end of this wisteria which was trying to turn the corner and grow across the front of the house.
It's been a bit of a disappointment this year as most of the blooms died off before opening. It may have been short of water beyond the kitchen side door.
There was a fair bit growing above and below the kitchen window, which being nearer the root would have taken much of the water..
But I've removed what you can see here, so there's now just the trunk, that grows over the top of the fence then round the side of the house.
That really big branch, grows from the wisteria on the pergola on the side of the garage, over the door in the fence and onto the pergola on the back of the house and crosses with the other one growing up from the base of the other pergola support post near the other side fence.
So now the only foliage of this one will be along the side of the house. I think I've achieved a nice balance with it, so I'm hopeful for lots of pink blooms next year.
It's been a bit of a disappointment this year as most of the blooms died off before opening. It may have been short of water beyond the kitchen side door.
There was a fair bit growing above and below the kitchen window, which being nearer the root would have taken much of the water..
But I've removed what you can see here, so there's now just the trunk, that grows over the top of the fence then round the side of the house.
That really big branch, grows from the wisteria on the pergola on the side of the garage, over the door in the fence and onto the pergola on the back of the house and crosses with the other one growing up from the base of the other pergola support post near the other side fence.
So now the only foliage of this one will be along the side of the house. I think I've achieved a nice balance with it, so I'm hopeful for lots of pink blooms next year.
Esther Knapicius
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I stood on my deck and watched 3 humming birds dart about my Yellow Wax bells, have two huge ones. As I stood still one --with a curious soul---decided to come toward me---about 2 feet away and hover to look at me----then back he went to the wax bells. I could hear the chirps from them also . Very special indeed. So today, just tiding up here and there.
Oliver Buckle
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Today we tackled the pond, I think it is the last part of the garden we haven't tackled before. I still have an open wound in my leg, so the missus did the bits in the water and I coped with what came out, mostly a lot of grass and mud, and ten buckets of water which I stood and decanted to lose some of the silt. We found water lilies galore, some kingcups, irises, and little newts and toads. Filled the compost heap with a lot of wet stuff that will do it good.
MiniOrchardDude
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Got a lot done over the weekend. Finally ran the wires for my 2 grape vines. Had to prune hard since it grew on the ground all summer.
Cut out all the raspberry fruiting canes and started running the missing wires for the raspberry trellis. 2 more wires to go.
Cut out the blackberry fruiting canes and tied them to the wires.
MOD
Cut out all the raspberry fruiting canes and started running the missing wires for the raspberry trellis. 2 more wires to go.
Cut out the blackberry fruiting canes and tied them to the wires.
MOD
Sean Regan
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I got into the rose pot-movers today.
Took the pots off them and cleaned them, removing the dab of silicone I put over the drain holes I drilled in their centres, these help retain water during the hot months but I don't want it there in the winter.
I also replaced all the castors, I take these off when I apply the silicone. Once the roses get a bit bushy, as the movers have mostly only three castors, there's a danger that a gust of wind can topple them over. This would likely mean a broken ceramic pot and they are expensive.
I don't need the castors in the summer, as I don't move them around a lot. But I will when the wisteria leaves start to fall.
Pruned off a lot of rose foliage with black spot. Then gave them and the soil in the pots a spray of Sulphur Rose.
Took the pots off them and cleaned them, removing the dab of silicone I put over the drain holes I drilled in their centres, these help retain water during the hot months but I don't want it there in the winter.
I also replaced all the castors, I take these off when I apply the silicone. Once the roses get a bit bushy, as the movers have mostly only three castors, there's a danger that a gust of wind can topple them over. This would likely mean a broken ceramic pot and they are expensive.
I don't need the castors in the summer, as I don't move them around a lot. But I will when the wisteria leaves start to fall.
Pruned off a lot of rose foliage with black spot. Then gave them and the soil in the pots a spray of Sulphur Rose.
Black_Thumb
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It was a pretty productive day today. I managed to clean my garage, trimmed all my hedges (cut the cord twice and had to repair it), pulled a ton of Bermuda grass (I HATE that stuff), trimmed all the dead and dying stuff off of our tomato plants, pulled all the old and dead watermelon vines out of one of our raised beds and all the weeds out of the other one and turned over all the soil as I prepare to plant onions and I think maybe some kale or spinach. Took inventory of the celosia growing and how badly that area needs to be weeded. I let the chickens free range for many hours as well. Checked on our bean plants. They are doing so well!! We weren't sure how they were going to work out, but they are going crazy!! I need to get some photos to share.
I am building a king-size bed for our downstairs bedroom and got some more work done on that. Yesterday I sanded for hours, and then my wife stained a bunch of the boards. This morning she put on a second coat on some of them, and also put some clear polyurethane on others. Three coats of poly and they look fantastic!
That's about it for now.
I am building a king-size bed for our downstairs bedroom and got some more work done on that. Yesterday I sanded for hours, and then my wife stained a bunch of the boards. This morning she put on a second coat on some of them, and also put some clear polyurethane on others. Three coats of poly and they look fantastic!
That's about it for now.