As I said in April part 1, it’s been a busy month. But it’s also been a chance to sit and take in my surroundings. Read a book and listen to the sounds of the countryside. I’ve relaxed into this life a lot more this month than I had before.
That said, there’s still plenty to do.
On the way to 5-a-day
I’m seeing potential for a bit of home-grown fruit. I planted strawberries last month and Laura uncovered blueberry and gooseberry bushes. I suppose at a stretch we could also count the blackberry which has invaded some of the garden.
At the very top there are 3 trees the previous owner called “my crap orchard”. They have put on a little blossom for April, but I’d be surprised if anything appears, edible or otherwise.
We weeded and dug over the vegetable plots, then added loads of lovely compost. There’s some rhubarb, chard and spring onion/garlic-ish things already there. I also dug up and composted some beets because, well, they’re beets! I’ll probably plant some runner beans and green veg, but I’m also planning to use part of the space to grow flowers for cutting.
Peonies. Not peonies. Some peonies
A couple of peonies emerged in late March. Then it seemed another 6 or 7 poked their heads up. I love peonies, so imagine my excitement.
A couple more weeks of growth and it’s plain that they’re not peonies but probably willowherb. I don’t love willowherb, so imagine my disappointment.
Now I look back at one of the photos I took when we viewed the place last year, it’s obvious.
According to Gardeners World it “will take over any domestic garden, spreading by seed and tough underground roots to form dense clumps.” And my god, those roots are tough. I foresee a grim war of attrition over the coming months.
But don’t despair. There are still 4 genuine peonies, plus one I bought to offset my disappointment and which will take a prime position currently occupied by bastard willowherb.
I. Will. Not. Be. Defeated.
Life after box hedges
I don’t want to sound obsessed, but everything is so much better without those bloody hedges.
I planted a row of small hebes and sedums by the patio where some of the box used to be. No need to squeeze past huge bushes along that narrow path anymore.
And doesn’t the acer look wonderful, standing alone in the setting sun?
Spring cleaning and grass seeding
With many trees and a climate that (usually) gets a fair bit of moisture, we have more than our share of moss. The drive is very steep and can be slippery, so it seemed a good idea to tackle the moss in the asphalt. Same for the courtyard and terrace, which has some definite bone-breaking potential if it’s not cleaned.
We scrubbed it with a wire broom, sprayed moss-murdering stuff everywhere and a few weeks later, blasted it with a pressure washer. The paving’s now pretty clear, but I’m not sure the driveway has gone so well.
Our small courtyard water feature had become almost opaque so I drained it, removed all the rocks and gave everything a good scrub before putting it back together. Not pleasant, but I suspect it will be an annual job.
Alongside one of the paths the grass is worn from foot and wheelbarrow traffic, and from our laying new stones. Laura prepared the ground and I sowed grass seed, which I’m protecting from birds via an elaborate tent of netting.
Other jobs for the month
Mostly done by Laura, who is here every Thursday to help wrestle the garden into shape.
- Mowed and strimmed lawns a couple of times
- Strimmed wild garlic on paths to keep from rampaging too much!
- Pruned fuchsias, Rosa rugosa and other roses
- Split and divided snowdrops on bank near path and planted outside the two studies and near the kitchen, so we can enjoy them next winter
- Removed blind daffodil bulbs
- Cleared flower beds in front and behind the house and uncovered hidden gooseberry and blueberry bushes
- Cut back some of the scores, nay hundreds, of hart’s tongue ferns!
- Removed clumps of horrible sedge grass
- Pruned and mulched some established hebes
- Spread barrow loads of compost under roses and shrubs
- Moved a hardy fuchsia to a better position
- Began rescuing Rosa rugosa at the top of the garden from being strangled by nettles and grass – cutting back and creating space
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