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Top gun roses being relieved of clay and replanted in a better draining scene.
What does your garden look like ... Today?
- Thread starter JBtheExplorer
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I did a bit today. Mowed the lawn.
"First cut is the shortest."
Not looking too bad, I'll give it some iron sulphate at the week-end.
The quince is doing well. Despite being heavily pruned each year to protect the rhodos and azaleas.
Gave the paths and patios a dose of "Wet n' Forget." I use a 5lt pump sprayer, gives more control and wastes less.
Gave the fifteen roses in pots on the patio a feed.
And the five that are a bit out of favour in pots next to the fence at the side of the drive.
"First cut is the shortest."
Not looking too bad, I'll give it some iron sulphate at the week-end.
The quince is doing well. Despite being heavily pruned each year to protect the rhodos and azaleas.
Gave the paths and patios a dose of "Wet n' Forget." I use a 5lt pump sprayer, gives more control and wastes less.
Gave the fifteen roses in pots on the patio a feed.
And the five that are a bit out of favour in pots next to the fence at the side of the drive.
- Joined
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This rose has a history.
It was originally in a pot on the patio.
This was it ten years ago.
But my wife didn't like it. She associates red roses with funerals. So it "had to go."
Well it didn't, I planted it between some rhododendrons half way down the garden.
It thanked me by thriving. So much so, I recycled an old bird feeder to support it.
It just couldn't keep its head down.
It got spotted from the French windows. Even without the zoom.
So it had to go again. I chopped it down to about a foot and it ended up amongst these other five unloved roses in tubs to the side of the drive. They don't get a lot of sun here.
Anyway, "a vacancy" has occured again down at the bottom of the garden. So it's out of the tub. But I've told it to keep its head down.
It was originally in a pot on the patio.
This was it ten years ago.
But my wife didn't like it. She associates red roses with funerals. So it "had to go."
Well it didn't, I planted it between some rhododendrons half way down the garden.
It thanked me by thriving. So much so, I recycled an old bird feeder to support it.
It just couldn't keep its head down.
It got spotted from the French windows. Even without the zoom.
So it had to go again. I chopped it down to about a foot and it ended up amongst these other five unloved roses in tubs to the side of the drive. They don't get a lot of sun here.
Anyway, "a vacancy" has occured again down at the bottom of the garden. So it's out of the tub. But I've told it to keep its head down.
Last edited:
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This is our new garden today.
Colin
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Hi,
Two year ago our rear garden was mostly meadow grass and moss full of pot holes dug by squirrels. I turned over most of the grass by spade leaving it over winter and since then I went over five times with a new rotavator Bron generously bought me for Christmas; at the very top of the garden was a big hedge and lots of assorted bushes being overgrown by mile a minute vine; the garden and our whole site is very steep it being a valley side; using the rotavator was challenging to say the least the ground being full of roots and stones but I stuck with it; one of the tines on the rotavator kept being displaced so in the end I removed both lots of tines and did a bit of welding; there's a clutch which slips if the tines jam up so welding was OK.
Last year because I planted many flowers and shrubs we enjoyed a very rare long summer plunging the garden into a drought; I tried watering cans and the hose but the water simply ran away heading to the valley bottom creating little streams; we've not enjoyed a summer for many years so because I planted it was expect to be a drought; we even paid £600 for cross season tyres for our car but with our luck we've only had icing sugar as snow so far this year. GRRRRR.
I thought lots of the plants had died off but I'm amazed to see the garden transformation; it's in full colour now; two rows of primula were planted at the top of the garden and I had little hope these would survive but most have and are now very pretty indeed; the bare ground next to the primulas is going to be turned into meadow flowers I've recently scattered thousands of meadow flower seeds so I hope these thrive as the year progresses; I've just been up the garden taking pictures and the breeze is still perishing. Not the best looking garden on this forum but a huge improvement over what it used to be.
Kind regards, Colin.
Looking up the mountain.
This time of the year is truly wonderful.
What a delight.
It only takes a day without rain for the soil to dry out. Lots of crocus were pretty whilst in flower.
Adding a bit of colour under laurels.
It's difficult standing upright; I can't put a mug of tea on the ground without it heading down to the valley bottom. Rotavating was fun.
I thought these had died off last year. Meadow flower seeds have been scattered on the prepared ground I hope they grow to attract butterflies and bees etc.
Close up. Looks like the grass is also coming back to life.
Two year ago our rear garden was mostly meadow grass and moss full of pot holes dug by squirrels. I turned over most of the grass by spade leaving it over winter and since then I went over five times with a new rotavator Bron generously bought me for Christmas; at the very top of the garden was a big hedge and lots of assorted bushes being overgrown by mile a minute vine; the garden and our whole site is very steep it being a valley side; using the rotavator was challenging to say the least the ground being full of roots and stones but I stuck with it; one of the tines on the rotavator kept being displaced so in the end I removed both lots of tines and did a bit of welding; there's a clutch which slips if the tines jam up so welding was OK.
Last year because I planted many flowers and shrubs we enjoyed a very rare long summer plunging the garden into a drought; I tried watering cans and the hose but the water simply ran away heading to the valley bottom creating little streams; we've not enjoyed a summer for many years so because I planted it was expect to be a drought; we even paid £600 for cross season tyres for our car but with our luck we've only had icing sugar as snow so far this year. GRRRRR.
I thought lots of the plants had died off but I'm amazed to see the garden transformation; it's in full colour now; two rows of primula were planted at the top of the garden and I had little hope these would survive but most have and are now very pretty indeed; the bare ground next to the primulas is going to be turned into meadow flowers I've recently scattered thousands of meadow flower seeds so I hope these thrive as the year progresses; I've just been up the garden taking pictures and the breeze is still perishing. Not the best looking garden on this forum but a huge improvement over what it used to be.
Kind regards, Colin.
Looking up the mountain.
This time of the year is truly wonderful.
What a delight.
It only takes a day without rain for the soil to dry out. Lots of crocus were pretty whilst in flower.
Adding a bit of colour under laurels.
It's difficult standing upright; I can't put a mug of tea on the ground without it heading down to the valley bottom. Rotavating was fun.
I thought these had died off last year. Meadow flower seeds have been scattered on the prepared ground I hope they grow to attract butterflies and bees etc.
Close up. Looks like the grass is also coming back to life.
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Didn't do much today. Had to clean y golf clubs, trolley and car.
So just had a check on any progress.
Tidied up the Mayleen over the front door. It'll soon bush up and trail down.
Pleased with how well the fifteen patio roses are doing. No sign of blackspot, but must remember to spray them every two weeks.
The Wet and Forget I used on the patios and path has cleared all traces of "green"
We've about four clumps of frogspawn in thee frog pond.
The Stella cherry, new to us last year has a lot of flower buds on it.
I've still got it "wired" to stop some branches crossing. I'll remove the wires in a couple of months when the growth will help them "set" in their new position.
The iron sulphate I gave the lawn yesterday has already started to green it up.
So just had a check on any progress.
Tidied up the Mayleen over the front door. It'll soon bush up and trail down.
Pleased with how well the fifteen patio roses are doing. No sign of blackspot, but must remember to spray them every two weeks.
The Wet and Forget I used on the patios and path has cleared all traces of "green"
We've about four clumps of frogspawn in thee frog pond.
The Stella cherry, new to us last year has a lot of flower buds on it.
I've still got it "wired" to stop some branches crossing. I'll remove the wires in a couple of months when the growth will help them "set" in their new position.
The iron sulphate I gave the lawn yesterday has already started to green it up.
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JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
I can finally start contributing again!
Prairie Smoke is starting to show signs of growth.
Right next to my Prairie Smoke is a soon-to-be rabbit nest. She's dug it out little by little each night, just as she did last year in the exact same spot.
Prairie Smoke is starting to show signs of growth.
Right next to my Prairie Smoke is a soon-to-be rabbit nest. She's dug it out little by little each night, just as she did last year in the exact same spot.
Colin
Retired.
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Hi,
Our rear garden is looking like hard graft. I'm replacing the shed and preparing the site making a better job of it. This morning I felt cold first thing but I've just knocked off not knowing where to put myself whilst wet with sweat. I've been saving stone from previous jobs including stone from our old chimney stack; this has been stored under the decking to the bungalow front. It was tiring just retrieving the stone but then I barrowed it to the bungalow rear before physically carrying it up the garden. Sounds easy enough but we live on a very steep valley side making just walking up the garden difficult.
I potted lots of Cerastium seeds so hope these will germinate; the prevailing breeze dries the pots out quickly. I daren't build a greenhouse because of the high winds we suffer up the valley.
I must be getting soft because I feel tired out.
Kind regards, Colin.
I'd forgotten how heavy stone is.
I'm in for fun because the stones are all shapes and sizes.
Cerastium (Snow in summer) grows well here so I've potted lots of Cerastium seeds.
Our rear garden is looking like hard graft. I'm replacing the shed and preparing the site making a better job of it. This morning I felt cold first thing but I've just knocked off not knowing where to put myself whilst wet with sweat. I've been saving stone from previous jobs including stone from our old chimney stack; this has been stored under the decking to the bungalow front. It was tiring just retrieving the stone but then I barrowed it to the bungalow rear before physically carrying it up the garden. Sounds easy enough but we live on a very steep valley side making just walking up the garden difficult.
I potted lots of Cerastium seeds so hope these will germinate; the prevailing breeze dries the pots out quickly. I daren't build a greenhouse because of the high winds we suffer up the valley.
I must be getting soft because I feel tired out.
Kind regards, Colin.
I'd forgotten how heavy stone is.
I'm in for fun because the stones are all shapes and sizes.
Cerastium (Snow in summer) grows well here so I've potted lots of Cerastium seeds.
- Joined
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Mowed the lawn and trimmed up the edges of the feature beds.
At this time of year I run a knife round the brick circles to get a even finish. This with running the strimmer alomg the edge of the path, produces narrow strips of grass with roots. I use these to patch small bare spots, a bit like hair transplants!
A strimmer does produce a nice clean edge.
Our first azalea is in bloom. It's in the front garden which is North facing and sees very little sun. It has lengths of plastic clothes line attached to it, to pull it away from the house a bit. I'll remove them in a couple of months, when it's "set."
Our little acer which I pruned over the winter, is doing well. It'll get another prune once the leaves are out. It produces new foliage all through the summer.
At this time of year I run a knife round the brick circles to get a even finish. This with running the strimmer alomg the edge of the path, produces narrow strips of grass with roots. I use these to patch small bare spots, a bit like hair transplants!
A strimmer does produce a nice clean edge.
Our first azalea is in bloom. It's in the front garden which is North facing and sees very little sun. It has lengths of plastic clothes line attached to it, to pull it away from the house a bit. I'll remove them in a couple of months, when it's "set."
Our little acer which I pruned over the winter, is doing well. It'll get another prune once the leaves are out. It produces new foliage all through the summer.
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Always so pleasant to see!
Colin
Retired.
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Hi,
Your garden looks gorgeous Sean; perhaps Bron and I should emigrate to your side of The Pennines then we could enjoy a lawn such as yours; living here on the valley side our grass was more moss than grass whatever I did with it so it had to go and now its mostly flower beds. Thanks for posting the pictures; I've now got something to aspire to.
I'm still fighting just to put up a garden hut; today I've been cutting laurels down to make a bit of space in order to work; a couple of years ago these laurels were 30' tall so I attacked them bringing them down to 3' tall so I could talk to them; everything I do is hard graft but it's better than being bored.
Kind regards, Colin.
Small branches removed using axe and now ready for the chainsaw.
All these laurels were 30' tall and getting well out of control until I attacked them; they now make attractive ground cover.
A petrol chainsaw is a must have machine here saving us a fortune.
That's more like it; I can now start to build the retaining wall out of stone. The brash I'll dispose of but the logs will be collected tomorrow by a wood burning friend.
Your garden looks gorgeous Sean; perhaps Bron and I should emigrate to your side of The Pennines then we could enjoy a lawn such as yours; living here on the valley side our grass was more moss than grass whatever I did with it so it had to go and now its mostly flower beds. Thanks for posting the pictures; I've now got something to aspire to.
I'm still fighting just to put up a garden hut; today I've been cutting laurels down to make a bit of space in order to work; a couple of years ago these laurels were 30' tall so I attacked them bringing them down to 3' tall so I could talk to them; everything I do is hard graft but it's better than being bored.
Kind regards, Colin.
Small branches removed using axe and now ready for the chainsaw.
All these laurels were 30' tall and getting well out of control until I attacked them; they now make attractive ground cover.
A petrol chainsaw is a must have machine here saving us a fortune.
That's more like it; I can now start to build the retaining wall out of stone. The brash I'll dispose of but the logs will be collected tomorrow by a wood burning friend.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Giant Blue Hyssop is beginning to grow next to a Blue Jay feather.
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My favorite gardening hat has the feather of a crow given a couple years ago.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Wild Geranium is just starting to pop up. They should be blooming by the middle of May.
