Breaking Through, Travelling On

Karmacat

Sorry Ed, no, not when you're planting seeds - I thought you were putting down plug plants and bulbs, my bad.

Let the seeds come up, make sure you know which ones are which as opposed to weed regrowth. When you've got the seeds well established as little plants, say half a dozen true leaves (ie usually ignore the first two leaves that open, they're sort of protection for the plant as its breaking through the soil) *then* put the chippings down around them. For little seeds to make it through huge great bark chips is difficult - some of them do, of course, though thats more likely to be perennial weeds whose roots have escaped you, but no need to make it more difficult for your little seeds that it needs to be.

Just place carefully, don't scatter (to avoid bashing the seedlings) you can always add more bark later, and weed around your loved plants in the meantime, it's just one bed and a finite time you need to do it, it will be worth it.

Don't let the mulch *touch* the seedlings either - it could rot the stem.

Blimey, this is more complicated than it sounds! One day, it'll be a blog post....

Thinking all this through has been really helpful for me, and I really hope it helps you to get the little bed that you want.

edinburgher

See, this is why I keep asking questions, it's a surprisingly complicated topic for an easy topic! But I can put chips over bulbs? I assume they're strong enough to push through?

Karmacat

Yes, I think so - but in the first year, I'd go easy even with them. Since you're out there weeding anyway, might as well give the bulbs the benefit of the doubt too? After a certain point, science gives way to inexactness ... the size of the bulbs, and how tightly you clump them together, for instance, might play a part?

Good grief, its a book, not a blog post!

I've snacked, and I'm finally, finally heading outdoors to try another bonfire, the first/last was weeks ago. And today, right now, its clouding over in an *ominous* way. Here's hoping ...

Karmacat

My little bonfire was successful :j

Used loads of tinder this time. I call it a bonfire, it's actually a fire built inside the smallest incinerator money can buy :rotfl: like this http://www.wilko.com/compost-bins+incinerators/wilko-galvanised-mini-incinerator-20l/invt/0444226
and its really amazing how it all burned down to practically nothing. Going to try it again today, see if I can clear one pile completely - and thats the thing, with burning such small twigs etc, the fire takes a lot of feeding. Really worth it, though, for clearing the garden and for adding structure to the soil (eventually).

That was the biggest thing, otherwise a fair bit of everyday stuff and admin for future events, which is always nice. Since I'm joining the National Trust on Friday, I'm also plotting what I can see in London while I'm there. Though I also want to finally see the Chelsea Physic Garden.

Karmacat

Yep, second little bonfire also successful and I went back out afterwards to chop down a bit more box hedge, saw off the rhodedendron branches that have grown elsewhere and blocked access to the *rest* of the box hedge (I tell you, the level of overplanting in this garden is ridiculous!), sawed up some of the long branches ready for the next bonfire, and used some debris from the box hedge as mulch in another part of the garden - its dead, and crinkles up in the hand, no secateurs needed.

Slight problem with regular bonfires of wood, though - my airways are quite sensitive to air pollution, and I've woken up the last two nights coughing I'm going to have to wear a mask. I don't sit over it, I'm back and forth to the pile of branches, but it still got to me.

I did some writing in preparation for getting back to blogging too, v pleased.

Today: Asda delivery - they emailed to tell me something was out of stock, I've never had that before! And as soon as thats away, I'm hopfully going to our local library, there's a talk about the local connections of Jane Austen :rotfl: I love Jane Austen dearly, but I may not be able to make myself go. Tried to encourage myself by telling my brother *and* my sister about it, we'll see

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Suffolk_lass

We don't have bonfires because the house is thatched, but we do burn loads in the wood-burning stove as kindling (with a bit of newspaper and some dried up orange-peel) - marvellous! I wheeze at this time of year but that is the tree pollen at the moment, rather than smoke inhalation.

Karmacat

I love the sound of dried up orange peel in there, very nice. I wish I had a wood burner where all this stuff could go (though only a few bits are big enough to put into a proper stove, to be honest) - but I need it all gone, this year anyway - its going to take me that long to get rid of it all, at this rate. There are three stacks all about 5' high

I get the allergies thing too - April and May are no fun in that way! Plenty of antihistamines on tap ...

I *did* get to the Jane Austen thing, and it wasn't anything to do with Jane Austen :rotfl: it was a lot of mostly dry research notes on the social and economic history of a village near to me, which I like, but still :rotfl: and then I got caught in a hail storm on my way back :eek: I'm afraid I just huddled in my armchair for a *long* time.

Today's a recovery day from all that, and its back to being bright and sunny, though there was a frost when I woke up this morning :eek: I have to get down to some detailed admin, and I don't want to. Watch this space

Cheery_Daff

Five minutes admin and then a treat

(just popped in to say thank you for birthday wishes and virtual cake the other day - it *is* my birthday today so I am very much appreciating them Especially as there's no sign of a real cake yet :rotfl: )

Karmacat

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

Five minutes admin and then a treat

I think thats exactly the right ratio, Cheery :rotfl:

(just popped in to say thank you for birthday wishes and virtual cake the other day - it *is* my birthday today so I am very much appreciating them Especially as there's no sign of a real cake yet :rotfl: )

Aha! Happy Birthday again :j:j:j I bet there's a real cake in the offing for you :kisses3:

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Cheery_Daff

Well I'm being taken out for lunch and cake so hopefully yes Thanks