So we're about to go out and attempt some gardening. The children are already outside getting covered in mud so it'll be baths all round later :o)
Brambles/ivy here we come...muhahahahah!
Update - argh! The ivy seems to be backing down but the brambles are a bit too much for me I'm afraid :o( Got to remember that little and often will get me there eventually!
Sunday, 25 February 2007
Thursday, 22 February 2007
My lawn plan!
After walking around the garden and thinking what a muddy patch my lawn is I've decided to get rid of most of it! I have talked to the children about it as I think lawns are mainly for children to run around on and they agree with me!
So I'm shrinking the lawn to a small patch which hopefully will be easier to keep green and the rest is either being barked or made into flower beds. The trampoline will be put in a permanent place with half of it buried in the ground (the ground we dig out will be used in our raised beds) and a fence put around with climbers growing up. Under the swing area will be bark and next to that will be a den for the children. A path will go through the garden to the back area and I'm thinking of putting arches over some of it for added interest.
Hopefully it'll look a lot better and in the winter I can more easily fence the lawn off from the dog so I don't end up with holes and muddy patches!
So I'm shrinking the lawn to a small patch which hopefully will be easier to keep green and the rest is either being barked or made into flower beds. The trampoline will be put in a permanent place with half of it buried in the ground (the ground we dig out will be used in our raised beds) and a fence put around with climbers growing up. Under the swing area will be bark and next to that will be a den for the children. A path will go through the garden to the back area and I'm thinking of putting arches over some of it for added interest.
Hopefully it'll look a lot better and in the winter I can more easily fence the lawn off from the dog so I don't end up with holes and muddy patches!
Tuesday, 20 February 2007
I don't like weekdays!
Mainly because I don't have my handyman around to help and I know if I do too much and injure myself I'll get shouted at. It's all mainly clearing the areas I want to use and planning what's going where.
Tempted now with square foot gardening if I can fit more into a small space. A trip to the library might be in order to see if they have any books on it. I can't even do any sowing which is my favourite bit as I'm not sure if the weather will change suddenly.
Might go and buy some gardening gloves today. I don't mind not using them when I'm planting but pulling up weeds without them is icky, especially if I touch a slug which will send me screaming down to the other end of the garden!
Also as a side thought if I have loads of frogs in the garden, why do I still manage to have loads of snails and slugs??? I have a feeling it's because of all the ivy on the wall which is being destroyed as we go...but it's still puzzling! Thought that frogs were supposed to love slugs and snails!
Tempted now with square foot gardening if I can fit more into a small space. A trip to the library might be in order to see if they have any books on it. I can't even do any sowing which is my favourite bit as I'm not sure if the weather will change suddenly.
Might go and buy some gardening gloves today. I don't mind not using them when I'm planting but pulling up weeds without them is icky, especially if I touch a slug which will send me screaming down to the other end of the garden!
Also as a side thought if I have loads of frogs in the garden, why do I still manage to have loads of snails and slugs??? I have a feeling it's because of all the ivy on the wall which is being destroyed as we go...but it's still puzzling! Thought that frogs were supposed to love slugs and snails!
Sunday, 18 February 2007
Weeds!
I hate them, hate them, hate them, hate them ad infinitum!
I hate the brambles which seem to smother everything, the huge clumps of grass which make the garden look like a field, the creeping buttercup which also treats the garden like a field, the stinking onions which don't want to leave and 101 other varieties of blimin weeds!
All seems like far too much to do out the back only in a small patch :o( Feeling very disheartened at the moment which isn't good. After 3 years I just wish it was sorted!
We have a bonfire going though and I've told the other half to burn anything in that area of the garden apart from the lemon and olive tree. Really wish I knew some people who were eager to destroy down the the bear earth!
I hate the brambles which seem to smother everything, the huge clumps of grass which make the garden look like a field, the creeping buttercup which also treats the garden like a field, the stinking onions which don't want to leave and 101 other varieties of blimin weeds!
All seems like far too much to do out the back only in a small patch :o( Feeling very disheartened at the moment which isn't good. After 3 years I just wish it was sorted!
We have a bonfire going though and I've told the other half to burn anything in that area of the garden apart from the lemon and olive tree. Really wish I knew some people who were eager to destroy down the the bear earth!
Seeds we have...seeds we need!
This is my list so far of the seeds we have and when they need to be sown:
Salad:
Salad leaf rocket – sow March to September
Salad leaves Sorrel Blood Veined – sow March to May
Salad leaves Niche Mixed – sow March to September
Lettuce ultimate mixed – sow March to August
Lettuce mixed salad leaves – sow indoors March to April, outdoors April to July
Lettuce All The Year Round (2 packets) – sow spring to mid summer
Lettuce Arctic King – sow September to early October
Tomato Shirley – sow indoors January to May
Alium:
Garlic Arno – sow spring onwards
Organic Onion Hystar F1 Hybrid – sow March to April
Leek Autumn Giant 2 Argenta – sow early spring
Root vegetable:
Raab Cima di Rapa – sow March to August
Carrot Parmex – sow March to June
Carrot Mini Finger (no packet)
Herb:
Oregano True Greek – sow Jaunary to June
Capsicum:
Pepper Cayenne – sow March to April
Pepper Tropical Heat – sow March to early April
Legume:
Pea Maincrop Onward – sow March to May
Flowers:
Sunflowers (no packet)
Violet Teesdale – sow February to June
Poppy Blue – sow February to June or September to October
Annuals Dwarf Mixed – sow March to June
Poppy (2 packets) – sow March to June or August to October
Mimulus Calypso Magic – sow late-winter to mid-summer
Cornflower Mixed – sow April to May
Sweet Pea Memories – sow March to April
Sweet Pea Geoff Amos – sow March to April
I have more packets dotted around the house so will be adding more as I find them UPDATE found lots more now added! This means I need to get:
Peas
Cucumber
Pumpkins
Strawberries
Courgettes
Peppers
I think! Hopefully I'll get a sense of perspective this year and not grow too much :o)
Salad:
Salad leaf rocket – sow March to September
Salad leaves Sorrel Blood Veined – sow March to May
Salad leaves Niche Mixed – sow March to September
Lettuce ultimate mixed – sow March to August
Lettuce mixed salad leaves – sow indoors March to April, outdoors April to July
Lettuce All The Year Round (2 packets) – sow spring to mid summer
Lettuce Arctic King – sow September to early October
Tomato Shirley – sow indoors January to May
Alium:
Garlic Arno – sow spring onwards
Organic Onion Hystar F1 Hybrid – sow March to April
Leek Autumn Giant 2 Argenta – sow early spring
Root vegetable:
Raab Cima di Rapa – sow March to August
Carrot Parmex – sow March to June
Carrot Mini Finger (no packet)
Herb:
Oregano True Greek – sow Jaunary to June
Capsicum:
Pepper Cayenne – sow March to April
Pepper Tropical Heat – sow March to early April
Legume:
Pea Maincrop Onward – sow March to May
Flowers:
Sunflowers (no packet)
Violet Teesdale – sow February to June
Poppy Blue – sow February to June or September to October
Annuals Dwarf Mixed – sow March to June
Poppy (2 packets) – sow March to June or August to October
Mimulus Calypso Magic – sow late-winter to mid-summer
Cornflower Mixed – sow April to May
Sweet Pea Memories – sow March to April
Sweet Pea Geoff Amos – sow March to April
I have more packets dotted around the house so will be adding more as I find them UPDATE found lots more now added! This means I need to get:
Peas
Cucumber
Pumpkins
Strawberries
Courgettes
Peppers
I think! Hopefully I'll get a sense of perspective this year and not grow too much :o)
Today's jobs!
For the benefit of my other half who wants to know what we're aiming to do today and assures me that writing it in blog form will give him more enthusiasm than just telling him! So today my plan is thus:
1) try to flatten the rubble which will make the new patio so I can walk across it safely without the worry of hurting myself.
2) work out where the pond is going to go so we can start on that (as I can't make my second veg bed until the old pond (full of frog spawn) is moved).
3) Get rid of the carpet, junk, ivy etc in the old greenhouse so I can see the state of the soil and decide whether to raise the level a bit...this will be a veg bed and it's getting fairly close to the time when I want to plant my aliums.
I think that's it! Only have an afternoon to do a lot of it in so don't want to try to do too much and then get despondent when it doesn't go well.
1) try to flatten the rubble which will make the new patio so I can walk across it safely without the worry of hurting myself.
2) work out where the pond is going to go so we can start on that (as I can't make my second veg bed until the old pond (full of frog spawn) is moved).
3) Get rid of the carpet, junk, ivy etc in the old greenhouse so I can see the state of the soil and decide whether to raise the level a bit...this will be a veg bed and it's getting fairly close to the time when I want to plant my aliums.
I think that's it! Only have an afternoon to do a lot of it in so don't want to try to do too much and then get despondent when it doesn't go well.
Saturday, 17 February 2007
Garlic planted and potatoes chitting away nicely!
That's one thing done today, although no photos because I thought the other half had taken some good ones but they both have me in and at 30 weeks pregnant I look like a huge lump so you can't actually see what I've done behind me!
In a couple of weeks though the early potatoes (Pentland Javelin) will be ready to plant into bin sacks and then hopefully 3 months later they'll be ready to harvest...yum!
Not quite sure when the garlic (Garlic Arno - medium flavour) will be ready (as in weeks/months) because I've never grown it before and it doesn't say on the packet! Although I can't wait because I loooooooooove garlic.
Tonight I'm searching through the seeds that have been left outside over winter and seem to be intact...well the foil packets are but not most of the paper because the mice have been having fun. So I need to look up a lot of the seed details so I know what I'm doing with them! Also have some left over from last year and for some reason the packets I'd emptied got wet and all stuck together so I can't read them anyway!
In a couple of weeks though the early potatoes (Pentland Javelin) will be ready to plant into bin sacks and then hopefully 3 months later they'll be ready to harvest...yum!
Not quite sure when the garlic (Garlic Arno - medium flavour) will be ready (as in weeks/months) because I've never grown it before and it doesn't say on the packet! Although I can't wait because I loooooooooove garlic.
Tonight I'm searching through the seeds that have been left outside over winter and seem to be intact...well the foil packets are but not most of the paper because the mice have been having fun. So I need to look up a lot of the seed details so I know what I'm doing with them! Also have some left over from last year and for some reason the packets I'd emptied got wet and all stuck together so I can't read them anyway!
Oh almost forgot!
We have lots of weeds to take care off...especially the brambles! I have no idea what possessed the last owners to grow blackberries, especially the ones with runners. Trouble is they now get everywhere and we're having a nightmare keeping them back...so any ideas would be great (except for weedkiller as we've tried that and it failed).
Stinking onions are having a great time under the big apple tree and big blobs of plantain is also driving me nuts. Oh and the dreaded bindweed which isn't so prolific at the moment but I just know that come summer it'll be getting everywhere!
Stinking onions are having a great time under the big apple tree and big blobs of plantain is also driving me nuts. Oh and the dreaded bindweed which isn't so prolific at the moment but I just know that come summer it'll be getting everywhere!
Scary photos!
Shows how much work we have to do.
Firstly this is part of the wall on the south side of the garden.
Secondly looking down the garden..facing east. Looks crowded!
Now looking at the north wall. There is a herb bed there but it needs a good clear out!
This is our shed. I'm seriously considering getting it knocked down to make way for patio area and our BBQ. There's a dead space behind the shed that I want a clear roof put on and used as shed space (needs to be a clear roof as there's a window to the basement at the bottom which needs light).
This is the area around our new conservatory, hence not quite finished yet. Can also see the aviary with no birds in at the moment...however there is a BBQ in there! At the back is our oil tank which we want to cover with a plant but I'm not sure what climber to use yet.
The herb bed again. Also in view are a couple of dead echiums which were lovely last summer, full of blue flowers and loads and loads of pollinating bees!
Finally a view taken from upstairs! Shows complete mayhem, lots of stuff to fit into a small space and lots of pots. It would be nice to move the children's stuff somewhere but I think they'd have something to say about that!
Firstly this is part of the wall on the south side of the garden.
Secondly looking down the garden..facing east. Looks crowded!
Now looking at the north wall. There is a herb bed there but it needs a good clear out!
This is our shed. I'm seriously considering getting it knocked down to make way for patio area and our BBQ. There's a dead space behind the shed that I want a clear roof put on and used as shed space (needs to be a clear roof as there's a window to the basement at the bottom which needs light).
This is the area around our new conservatory, hence not quite finished yet. Can also see the aviary with no birds in at the moment...however there is a BBQ in there! At the back is our oil tank which we want to cover with a plant but I'm not sure what climber to use yet.
The herb bed again. Also in view are a couple of dead echiums which were lovely last summer, full of blue flowers and loads and loads of pollinating bees!
Finally a view taken from upstairs! Shows complete mayhem, lots of stuff to fit into a small space and lots of pots. It would be nice to move the children's stuff somewhere but I think they'd have something to say about that!
The first and hopefully not the last!
Today was the first day in a few months I've actually ventured out into the garden! The main reason I haven't been out there before is that I'm expecting my third child in 10 weeks and due to hip pain, the cold, sickness etc etc etc I just haven't had the enthusiasm to go out.
However today the sun is shining, I have man help in the form of my wonderful husband and I really can't leave it any longer. It's lovely and warm outside and again for the first time in months I actually have the kitchen door open and I've turned the heating right down!
I think to start I need to work out what major works need doing, think about what I want to throw out, wonder how I'm going to get all the weeds away without drowning the garden in weedkiller and then have a cup of coffee :o)
I have photos which I shall add on tonight so you can see just how much work we have to get through. I'm hoping that at least by the summer the grassy area will be mostly grass, the beds shall be mostly cleared and fingers crossed really tightly that the new pond is done!
Also have some garlic and early potatoes to plant in the next couple of weeks and then I need to search through my seeds to see what we're going to be eating this year :o)
However today the sun is shining, I have man help in the form of my wonderful husband and I really can't leave it any longer. It's lovely and warm outside and again for the first time in months I actually have the kitchen door open and I've turned the heating right down!
I think to start I need to work out what major works need doing, think about what I want to throw out, wonder how I'm going to get all the weeds away without drowning the garden in weedkiller and then have a cup of coffee :o)
I have photos which I shall add on tonight so you can see just how much work we have to get through. I'm hoping that at least by the summer the grassy area will be mostly grass, the beds shall be mostly cleared and fingers crossed really tightly that the new pond is done!
Also have some garlic and early potatoes to plant in the next couple of weeks and then I need to search through my seeds to see what we're going to be eating this year :o)
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