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

greenbee

I've run out of compost to mulch with I might see whether I can get some of the waste from the biodigester delivered as apparently that's good.

One winter flowering cherry needs planting.

Now the tree people have been I need to work on planting plans as it has opened up further space. There's a whole lot of space behind the veg plot that needs clearing so I can plant along it (west facing, with next door's fence behind it) and there are rhubarbs ready to go in there. Rest of the veg plot needs clearing and broad beans sowing (as well as chillies and aubergines indoors in the heated propagator if I can work out where to put it and acquire some seed compost). 

Repairing the fence is a priority - it needs the ivy and stuff growing against it in the wood removing so that can be done. On my side I need to work out what ornamental trees I am going to plant where and get them in/ordered. Probably a combination of flowering cherries and some pretty crab apples. Then there's a LOT of planning  of the space to do so I can put in posts and wires for climbers, and fence in the veg plot. 

Greenhouse needs a good clean too, and the back shed needs sorting out and shelves putting up. 

Farway

greenbee said:

I've run out of compost to mulch with I might see whether I can get some of the waste from the biodigester delivered as apparently that's good.

May be different costings in your area, but here, Hampshire, I found it was cheaper to buy bags of cheap Universal composts from the likes of Home Bargains and use that instead of Council composted waste AKA Pro Grow

Mad economics but there you go

greenbee

Thanks Farway. I don't get the council stuff, and also don't get the bags as I'm having it delivered in multiples of builders' bags (it's a big garden!). The tree surgeons are using waste from the biodigester for their planting and apparently it's good - maize, chicken poo, woodchip (from them!) all composted very hot! No grotty topsoil added, and no weed seeds. So probably worth a try. 

EssexHebridean

I emptied the last of a bag of manure onto several patio roses (all in pots) yesterday - my Dad's rose which I've gained as Mum was struggling with it now looks happy enough - indeed it actually flowered just prior to christmas, mad thing! A little tiny patio rose bought from Lil's is flourishing, and the one that was present in a tall pot when we got here and made NO efforts at flowering last year has had tender loving care for over a year now so if it doesn't flower this year it's going to be relocated or disposed of - no free rides here! If that pot does get free'd up then it will gain either a dwarf fruit tree of some sort or a fruit bush - not decided which yet. 

Need to add a new bag of manure to the list next time we go to the nursery, albeit that might be a while away yet. 

I did spot a cheeky bit of bindweed clambering up one of the gooseberries the other day so that got unwound and removed - and there is a wee bit more weeding to get done at some stage too. We also need to make a decision on whether to dig out the remaining chard plants now - something (I suspect pigeons, but may be wrong) keeps nibbling them, there is still one they are leaving alone and I'll probably take some more leaves from that at some stage, but overall there might not be enough benefit to leaving them in situ now. 

kazwookie

Ohoops oh dear, it seems another two apple trees jumped into the boot of my car, while I was walking around the local town

It is chucking it down currently, so I'll try to plant tomorrow.

redofromstart

I'm busy planning a series of bought raised beds for the veg plot.

i am away for a few days but brought some helebores and snowdrops to plant, and will trim the ivy if there are some secateurs hiding anywhere. 

Farway

kazwookie said:

Ohoops oh dear, it seems another two apple trees jumped into the boot of my car, while I was walking around the local town

It is chucking it down currently, so I'll try to plant tomorrow.

Just from curiosity, what varieties?

kazwookie

Farway, this time it was discovery and James Grieve, last time bramley, and sunset.

debtfreewannabe321

I managed to get 20 hedges in at the weekend. We thought we'd have to heel them in or pot as they were bare root, but the soil was so easy to dig up we planted properly. I have a huge apple tree that needs pruning, it is covered in mistletoe. Do you prune that off? Or just leave it? The tree is massive so not sure I can even reach the tops of it to properly prune. We have a pear similar size, assuming that can be done same time? 

greenbee

I was thinking Bramley and James Grieve for apples @kazwookie. Opal and Victoria for Plum. Conference for pear. I need to decide soon and get them ordered - one other parcel of trees is on it's way, and another should be soon.