GreenFly - A 'flylady style' gardening thread with weekly tasks to tame your garden

Brie

Happy Gardeners Day!  Well at least that's what I call it when my gardeners are here, and it doesn't rain!!

They work tremendously hard and do all that nasty weeding stuff I hate.  That said I think the lad may have dug up my foxgloves....oh well, they were free so not a big problem. 

And the man in charge helped me deal with an ant infestation in a planter - I carefully took out the plants that were struggling in there - cue an ant volcano.....  then I scooped out a lot of the dirt - cue more ants including the winged type.  And then chap dumped the rest of the planter into a trug for me so I could dump all the ant and earth in to the bin hopefully getting rid of the actual nest.  This sounds easy but ants were every where and getting bitey and the planter was a solid cement one weighing a ton.  Boiling water was poured over everything anty (sorry little creatures) and eventually I replanted everything plus some short sunflowers seedlings which needed to shifted.

I also managed to plant up a lovely old small stone trough with a selection of "hens and chicks" and similar things and put more of the sunflowers in another pot nearby.  The other pot will be a challenge as the OH tried to plant it up a couple of weeks back but fell and all the birds subsequently decided it was the perfect place for dirt baths.  I've added a lot of sticks to make getting to the dirt slightly more difficult.  Of course if they want to get in there they will.  

Off now to make some sandwiches for dinner so I can stare out at my garden while the OH watches something sporty on TV.  

KajiKita

Lovely to read of all your successes 😊
I am struggling here due to the disruption and extra work having a new bathroom installed brings, and I know that there are peas to be picked and strawberries rotting out there … 😢

KK

Cherryfudge

I finally did a little bit of plant-related stuff yesterday: I'd put some basil cuttings in water and they rooted nicely so they're now planted up. Ditto a tiny bit of  gooseberry bush that has a magnificent set of roots, and a pinched out bit of tomato plant that is now the world's smallest tomato plant with adult leaves.

Today I need to feed and water all the houseplants.

greenbee

I've given all my house plant a good soak in a washing up bowl over the last couple of days. Most of them need repotting at some point soon. 

I've also moved a barrow-load of compost into the greenhouse and potted up one more of the leggy tomato plants. I need some quality time in the greenhouse soon to get all the tomato supports in place. 

kazwookie

7kgs of 2nd earliers dug up, look in good condition, yum yum

Weeding done

Lawn cut

Creeping butterup had some weed killer stuff on it, seems to have done the job, fingers cross, and the grass is ok.

redofromstart

Oh so deeply envious of the potatoes @kazwookie - just the best taste with far too much butter.  

Oh and I am fairly certain your creeping buttercup was connected to @greenbee 's and mine!

greenbee

My creeping buttercup isn't dead yet. 

KajiKita

There is a national network of creeping buttercup <tugs on sections here, plants in @kazwookie’s patch move> 😳🙄😂😂😂😂

KK

EssexHebridean

For avoidance of doubt, send no creeping buttercup my way - having said that, if anyone would like some Hawkweed, my grass has plenty to spare...

Something is digging up my seedlings. It's been into the radishes twice - on both occasions JUST after they've started the germination process, had a decent go at the spinach, and is more than happy to delve into whatever else might be around as well. I've shoved a sheet of wire mesh over the top, and we will see if that sorts things out, but we may need to get a lump of insect mesh or similar to drape over the lot...

greenbee

I have plenty of hawkweed too, thanks.

For anyone who can't get hold of the wool slug pellets, ask around for people who get wool insulation in deliveries. I had a lot when my cats were eating frozen food and it wasn't returnable. I also get it with chilled stuff that comes with my veg box order, although that an be returned. I find it just as effective, and it's 'free'.