What have you done today in the Garden?

Riley— I admire your capabilities, and the trouble that you can go to to protect your wonderful machines. You know, every time I see your tea house it gives me a good feeling. You did such good work on that.

Daniel— I agree that we may have mor wind than you there. It is just there all the time. Cold temps and a stiff wind is deadly here. It kills new growth, kills opening apple, plum, blueberry and strawberry buds. We all her know about it, but not everyone is as big a sissy as we are— during certain months, we pay extra attention to the weather forecasts and if we feel that the conditions could produce killing conditions, we bundle our plants up with botanic fleece and straw. Y’know mate— everyone on our allotment complex has suffered loss from the drying/freezing wind, but some folks cannot be bothered to take steps.

The Bride and I chuckled that you recognised the reference. Usually folks read over my impish word subtileties.

 

Nothing today it's been raining, so I'm taking down the Christmas decorations.

 

I worked outdoors raking more leaves. I did make some good progress. I also did some pruning and picking up down branches. Yesterday, I even got the new post hole dug for the next piece of light pole for a corner post. I need to replace a weak corner post. Son will help whenever he gets home next. I am still thinking about where to use the other two pieces of light pole for fence.

It was sunny and chilly today.

 

It's nearly 10.30am. The temperature is 0c. it's very frosty out but with clear blue skies. We've had a lot of rain in the last few days and more promised for the week-end.

My golf course is closed as it's too wet, not that I was intending to play before the middle of next week.

There's nothing I need to do in the garden and the shed and garage are tidy. I've some shopping to do, but that's about it. I'm presently watching tennis from Australia on TV.

It's now 3.00pm. The temperature is up to +3c. now and it's still sunny. So although I wasn't going to do anything, I pruned the last two wisterias on the back of the house.
Yes, I needed the ladder, My wife reluctantly said I could because I told her, if I didn't do it, it wouldn't get done. It didn't take that long.

More rain low temperatures and possibly snow is forcast for the week-end

I also gave the two main patios a dose of "Wet n' forget.
My reasoning being that it, plus the low temperatures expected tonight, should kill off anything on them.
I also gave all the roses a dose of Sulphur rose. There's a lot of tiny shoots on them and I want to get ahead of any black spot. A vain hope as we always get some roses affected.

 

Still taking down the Christmas decorations, got a lot to do and the tree.

 

Logan same here . It’s soggy out constantly raining and windy can’t get to the outside lights. Need to get the inside decorations cleared.

 

Today I removed two espalier apple trees that were taking too much space and work, and the apples weren't good at all. I also removed the two genetic dwarf peach trees. Those also took too much space, and were a lot of work. The peaches were very good, but we are low-carb now so greatly reduced our fruit consumption.

That made a lot more space and elbow room. I left one trellis standing, for vertical squash growing.

 

I did get outdoors this afternoon. I was going to rake, but decided to work on the mess at the south end of my garden. It is overrun with too many rose of sharon bushes, and day lilies, and sedums, and other things. So I got out there with the long shovel and a prybar and had at it. I got about 1/3 of the mess removed maybe. I might replant some of those bushes out in my woods or down by my pond. I got to check on my pond the other day, and removed part of the down tree blocking the path. The pond is very full, and my weeping willow tree is out in the water, but I don't think it will mind at all. Willows like a lot of water. It is normally on the edge of my pond.

I want to plant flowers and herbs like black eyed susans, zinnias, echinacea, marigolds and others in that spot. They will attract a lot of polinators.

The reason I decided to do digging is because the ground is not frozen solid at the moment. I can still rake if the ground is frozen, but I cannot dig frozen ground.

When I was hauling leaves to the compost heap in the south corner, I found a cherry tree growing on the pasture side of it. There are several rose of sharon bushes caught in the fence, and I was thinking of salting them to get rid of them, but I hate to get rid of a cherry tree. I love cherries, and all kinds of fruits. Maybe I can dig the rose of sharon out of the fence line and not kill the cherry tree??? They are smack-dab against each other in that corner. They are each about 3 feet or so tall. My other cherry trees are tart pie cherries, but I will have to wait and find out on this one. I have put pits from store cherries (Bing I think) in my compost heap, so just maybe I will have a sweet cherry tree?

I am not sure if my mature cherry trees survived the cicadas last summer yet. The cicadas did a LOT of damage to them, and they lost foiliage early. Allegedly the cicadas do not damage trees, but they did damage my cherry trees this year. This area is heavily wooded, both private property and National Forest, so spraying would never be an option. Many animals and birds eat the cicadas, and I wish they would eat many more of them. My chickens LOVE to eat cicadas.

I wont have time to work outdoors again until sunday.

 

Sounds like you have quite a quandary with the new cherry tree start, seeds in compost , and rose of Sharon. I am hoping the cicadas didn’t damage your cherry trees. Living next to a heavily wooded area can be tricky. Have the same issue. Lots of deer and elk come searching for food . Not to mention all the squirrels. Other forest animals tend to hunt around too.

 

It's dry but, I've nothing to do. So I could have played golf.

Err. No I couldn't. Because it's a bit wet. They sent me this video with an apology.




They're going to check again on Monday. The course does drain quickly, but won't if the River Mersey is high. The sluice gates through which our course drains into it, will be closed by the pressure of the high river water, they won't re-open until the water level in the river goes below the height of the sluices.

 

Pacnorwest, i hope that you got your decorations down.
I've finished mine but still can't get out in the garden, it's turned colder and frosty here.

 

Same here @Logan Way too chilly for this ole gal outside today even with ski jacket and warm boots on. The damp weather sure feels colder than same temps in drier humidity type weather. I will wait until a better day to retrieve the outdoor x-mas lights. At least the inside decorations are done and stored away. I luv putting them up and hate taking them down. I do leave my x-mas tree up all year to decorate for other celebrations, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations …fall and Holloween. Usually just pop on garden clippings for wreaths and swags , dried flowers on the tree. Holly stems and berries , colorful dried flowers and vines that turn red and orange. Then just toss out no storage issues.
Even took the fairy lights off the amaryllis . Nothing is safe from x-mas lights.




DHR from the golf course video maybe try wearing fishing waders and a floating ball to get around that course. Can’t imagine what the sand traps are like …quick sand. Probably better to just read a good book or listen to your fav music or practice a few tunes on your keyboard. Oh and that Honey dew list thing.

 

Raining. No garden work today.
Indoors, I repotted the first group of Pelargonium seedlings, from 2 inch cells to 3.5 inch round pots. I think they'll like that better.