Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Nelliegrace

The neighbours on both sides feed the birds. We have secure rat bait boxes and something eats the blocks even when we don’t see a rat. They are always about.

We have had several very useful talks on pest control at the local Smallholders’ Association. You can join even if your garden is just a window box. 

YoungBlueEyes

"Little house of horrors" You swine! And I ain't pressing play on that video either.

Just been out for a look and I (inexpertly) reckon we're into rat territory. No more catchings but I can hear something scritting about under there. They're getting in and out just fine by nudging the traps over without setting them off! I'm ringing the council on Monday - the tracks are all kinds of bigger and wider, and I don't want it getting out of hand.... *shudder* We're only a few hundred yards from a skinny wee beck so it might always be a background issue but it's far too bladdy 'foreground issue' at the mo.

Sun's out now tho.

greenbee

Rats are very clever and suspicious by nature. They’ll know the traps are new, so will be avoiding them. Well worth getting the professionals in, and finding out from the neighbours whether this is a regular problem. My parents had to stop feeding the birds when they moved house as the village is infested with rats.

twopenny

Get some cheap solar lights to shine where they run.

Rats like the dark and a dark run out of sight of preditors.

At this time of year they are desperate for food so more in evidence. Compost heaps can attract too. I make sure not to put potato peelings or egg shells, not fresh fruit etc in mine.

My neighbour has a seed catcher under her hanging seeds, I have the fat block in a cage big enough for birds but not rats.

Natural deterants - nice stuff

https://integrumservices.co.uk/pest-control-blog/rats-in-garden/

Or you can add some cheap 'aromatherapy' oils to a spray and spray liberally for the smell. Just that cats don't like that either so some planning required.

Back to the weather - some unexpected sunshine but still cold with an icy wind so no desire to spend leisure time in it.

No real sign of it changing which is depressing but still, the forcast is mainly missing the brightness which we are lucky enough to get and that helps.

I'll see about tomorrow, some expanding trellis at the top of the fence and tying in needed. It's darn shady and cold there so I would preferably like it to happen by magic.

YoungBlueEyes

Thanks for the suggestions folks With us being about 800 yards from a neck I think we’ll always get a few. Lovely neighbour says she sees them ‘time to time’…. Council will be rung first thing in morning. 

Got a good day’s gardening done, despite the cold wind. Soon got warmed up when we were working. Sun was out (stick that you Devonian drunkards!) so we got a big wobbly line cut out of the side of the grass to make a flowerbed. Next job is to get all the plants I bought in there. I dug up the stalks that I think might be rasps and got them planted in a bucket - you shoulda seen the roots on ‘em! Blackie and mrs and the wee robins were overseeing proceedings so hopefully they’re out there now filling their bellies with all the bugs we turned up. 

Sat having a coffee now, with sore hands and a happy heart 😊

twopenny

Well it's another bitterly cold day and icy north wind.
Dense cloud.
The best you can say is there's daylight.
Will see how it goes but I think it's a day to do the paper work. 

Farway

Bright & sunny, but frost first thing to catch any camellias that were brave enough

If the sun keeps going, I may pot on some of the Hot Lips cuttings and sow a sprinkle of Little Gem Lettuce in a small pot. Nice job in the sun but not in dull & cold

If sun remains, I'll try for a photo of the long-lost & newly discovered crocus that have appeared

YoungBlueEyes

Raining here at the mo but I think it's meant to be dry later on, which is a good job cos I didn't get my plants in. I was digging about down through the soil to makes sure there's no weeds or stones or bulbs and it turned into a day's work! If there's ever a carrot shortage yous can ring me and I'll supply you with dandelion roots that would definitely pass as carrots.... and lovely neighbour's trees have roots all the way into my garden So I've sliced as far down as I can to sever them and pulled them all up out of the soil. Rather beautiful things actually - they look like those pics of blood vessels networks. So that's another few days work I reckon 'til my plants are in.

Did anybody see the northern lights? It was on my news last night that they could be seen over pretty much the whole country the other night, not extending as far down last night but still a large area. They showed videos of them from Norfolk and Cornwall! I've never seen them but I really would love to

Farway

Sunny again, but chilly.

YoungBlueEyes said:

Did anybody see the northern lights? It was on my news last night that they could be seen over pretty much the whole country the other night, not extending as far down last night but still a large area. They showed videos of them from Norfolk and Cornwall! I've never seen them but I really would love to

No , I never knew until last night & saw the mention on the local news, apparently also seen from the Isle of Wight, so I was waiting, but clouds last night so tough luck. I've seen lots of things, but never those, would love to see them, seems it's down to sunspot ejection or something, so still in with a chance for next couple of nights

I never made it into the garden yesterday, clouded over & just too cold, only bit of gardening was e-mail from D Brown, my canna seeds are on the way. I'll sow them ASAP once they're here, need to get some early growth if I want flowering this year, I assume similar to dahlias from seed

All being well, into town tomorrow, more compost from Home Bargains and maybe some half size seed trays?

I did spot a plastic blow away mini greenhouse there the other week for under a tenner, I may just get one and use it in the wind-free conservatory, for shelving & sheltered handy seed growing space that isn't my window sill

LessImpecunious

Farway said:

I did spot a plastic blow away mini greenhouse there the other week for under a tenner,

Brilliant! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣