Grow Your Own Magazine

NTG, how fantastic. In previous threads Grapes have been lamenting the loss of natural hedgrows and trees. It is good to know that all is not lost.
Jax

No, it's not lost, just in dire need of some attention. They said that a lot will have to come out (Sycamore etc) & some of the Mature holly will be left as standard trees, the gaps will have dead wood put in & the the replanting done behind that. We think it was last done about 30 years ago !! & as soone as the wild briars are established I'll be sneaking into folks gardens & knicking shoots to bud on to it (only joking, but it would look a site wouldn't it !)

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

that sounds good NTG - wish someone would give us some dosh for some more of ours!! we planted a natural english hedge 3 (I think) years ago, and it is now up to about 5' tall. it is about 30' long and has mixed plants - hazel, elder, dog rose, etc etc and it is starting to look quite good. if we had the money, I could extend it another 30' or so, but sadly the dosh isnt there. we've planted it where it is, along a boundary, to try and screen out some new housing.

Potted petunia plugs!

We finally managed to erect supports for and to plant two espaliered apple trees and three cordons as well as finishing the door frames on my polytunnel.

The manure pile is getting smaller but as all the tattie trenches are dug and filled with it some may have to be moved into a spare compost bin until the fall.

The greenhouse is rapidly filling up with several hundred tomatoes and chillies etc pricked out and slowly being potted on.

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Kindest regards, David.

http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/
updated - Sunday 19th at 2100hrs

Ordered a sonic cat collar for my darling little killer. She's got a collar with a bell but she still brings back unwanted presents. And I thought as I live next to an RSPB farm which is managed for lapwings, golden plover, dunlin, snipe and skylarks, I thought we'd better do something before spring arrives in earnest.

The collar beeps every seven seconds, so she can't hide in ambush mode. Hope it works... say hello Rita...

I hope she won't be needing an animal psychologist after a couple of weeks!! Mind you, I understand that people with new heart valves (they click!) get used to the sound after a few sleepness nights. Hope it works.

Looked out at the snow again ....................

Same here Jennie
Started at four o'clock this afternoon, now we have at least five inches and getting deeper as I type. Forecast not too bad for tomorrow, but more snow expected on Friday - all day. We will get a weekend where there is no snow and it's dry - I reckon sometime about end of May - probably be the weekend of my wedding so I still won't get anything done in the garden

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

god, I feel for you lot oop north and beyond - its really cold and the ground is rock hard down here, but at least we havent got snow... we aint got much spring either though.

Well i woke up this morning to the sun streaming in through the window. I was out of bed like a shot, did all the chores and was digging in my garden by 11.30. Spent the morning howing my winter garlic and onions. Broke for lunch at 1.30 and sat in the sun with a big cheese and onion roll and a mug of tea. Bliss!
In the afternoon I tackled the dreaded patch at the back of the garden that has been neglecteddue to lack of time and energy. Took me the whole afternoon routing out briars, nettles and creeping buttercup but finally finished it. Well I felt like doing a lap of honor round the garden but had,nt got the energy.
Spent an hour in the bath tonight and am off to bed soon with a smile on my face and nettle stung hands + a few thorns to boot.
This really feels like winter is over.
By the way, saw two ladybirds in the garden today, are they early or have i just never noticed them before.

I had to go to work

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Nick,
There has to be some benifits to being a housewife. If it makes you feel any better, its lashing rain today and i'm stuck indoors amusing my 2year old grand daughter, so its back to the grindstone for me as well.

Yes you get a fair dousing in Ireland I believe. Still tomorrow I've got to go to a meeting off site and it's only 10 minutes from a nursery I want to visit - Winner

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Raining here but I`m on nights so off to bed, One more night then 5 days off to strangle the manure heap with.

__________________
Kindest regards, David.

http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/
updated - Sunday 19th at 2100hrs

Sick of a certain fruit company who never delivered my trees (see another thread in Feeling Fruity) trawled the shops and found a few apple trees in Lidl, Aldi and local hardware shop! They now firmly planted over my fruit arch (yes, will take photos soon). Glad I dug the ground over.

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

Very windy here, everytime I plant it snows, rains or turns into a gale.

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

nice day here, mild and the odd spot of sunshine. have planted a climbing rose (pink perpetue) and 2 hebes. my verbena bonariensis are looking a bit sick in the cold frame though, I think they've dried out too much. have bunged on water and crossed fingers.
first daffodil ALMOST out!

Bit of cutting back, cut last years new clematis back to 18" and used the off cuts to take cuttings. If they take it is a bonus if they don't then nothing lost.
Rain here but only heavy showers so have been able to get on.
Wonderful display of Daffodils in the front garden. I think spring might actually be here now.
Jax

Had to sit and type most of the day, was itching to repot dahlias but don't have the soil - any advice on the potting compost for these?

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

Went to work dying with bad cold, dry cough etc etc. Came home to find our boiler is airlocked - can't get plumber, then noticed that my Prunus Okama is starting to flower - made me smile

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

If you're just wanting to start the tubers off to take cuttings, anything will do Andrew. If you're wanting to grow them in pots, JI No3

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

planted 2 hebes and a rose - gorgeous day here, mild and some sunshine, the daffs are so nearly out, but just not quite...!

It was nice today even where I was in Derbyshire up nr the peak district. I didn't get into the garden but visited two garden centres & bought 5 cacti with all the money i'm saving from not smoking

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ntg