My big pots had been standing outside and the rain had cleaned some but I got them done properly on Monday morning after I'd done a bit of housework. It was nice and bright and sunny in the greenhouse and the water butt water wasn't too cold for the job of getting them all clean.
Still so much to do outside - The water butt now needs emptying, the horrible yew hedge out the front to be cut and the three Buddleias all need cutting back. I've still got a wheelbarrow three-quarters full of my home made compost to empty and the three new patio fruit trees to get into bigger pots. The problem is I need the wheelbarrow empty for cutting the hedge and can't empty it all at once because it's going to go on the veg bed that is a bit low on soil and that's where the purple sprouting broccoli is.
I've always had more than one wheelbarrow everywhere else, now I know why.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Might be a good idea to suggest you’d like one as an early Christmas present😊
ReplyDeleteDoes a garden as small as mine with just me need two wheelbarrows? and if I'd have known I might I'd have brought the other with me!
DeleteYou remind me I haven't cleaned my pots yet - thanks. xx
ReplyDeleteGarden reminder service!
DeleteThe psb will thank you for a good mulch of homemade compost right now leaving you with an empty barrow, or use it to pot on the fruit trees? I would leave the buddleia unpruned until mid-February and I would get someone with the proper kit to cut the yew hedge and take away the arisings. I never wash pots - as I garden organically and only ever use homemade compost all my bacteria belongs here and is friendly. We have a couple of acres including an acre of wild wood and half acre of natural perennial wildflower meadow and I have one working wheelbarrow which we upgraded recently to one which cannot get punctured. The one with the flat tyre which was a birthday present in October 2001 now sits decoratively in the corner of the kitchen garden overflowing with borage, verbena officinalis and mint. Apart from harvesting winter greens and salads and bringing in wood I have finished my gardening for the year, unless I am lured out on a bright sunny day to do compost turning. I certainly won’t be doing anymore cutting back or weeding as the soil needs all the protection it can get against the winter weather. I’m even going to leave the asparagus to naturally decompose, that usually gets cut back end of October but I noticed the other day it is home to a colony of hibernating seven-spotted ladybirds. My philosophy is that unless there is a burning need to do something I leave well alone. Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteCan't mulch the PSB as its all growing sideways and upwards so can't see the soil, can't stake them as it will pull them out of the ground.
DeleteHave to do the buddleia in bits as it's hard work and my back complains and ditto the Yew hedge, the cutting with electric hedge cutter is easy enough but the picking up isn't and the council garden waste bin is only emptied once a fortnight and I have no more room for more compost bins and everything here is squashed into a small space.
This is why they say a gardener's work is never done. I managed to get round washing my pots this year. I gave them away. They could be somebody else's problem. Truth be told, she's going to use strong disinfectant because she will be putting plants in them for sale.
ReplyDeleteGarden jobs worry away at me if the weather is fine and I know there is still more to be done.
DeleteYou seem to have a 'Yes, but' problem with your wheelbarrow:-)
ReplyDeleteExactly right
DeleteI cleaned my pots over the weekend, it's a dirty job, but now it's done the feeling is great, I love to ensure everything is packed away clean. We are in the process of making leaf mulch, so all the hard work does have a reward.
ReplyDeleteLeaf raking is a job still to be done - they are still hanging on at the moment
DeleteWhy don't you fill the compost out of the wheelbarrow with buckets?
ReplyDeleteI will have to do that - it'll take an age as the compost is now very wet and heavy.
DeleteYou can't have too many wheelbarrows!
ReplyDeleteWe had 4 or 5 at the smallholding and still not always enough!
DeleteGosh you put me to shame Sue, I've not even thought about my outside pots altho I have planted up daffs and tulips but still need to do loads more in the garden.
ReplyDeleteStuff the hedge clipping into bags.
ReplyDeleteCan you throw a tarp on the ground and drag it where it needs to go? That is how we do our leaves.
ReplyDeleteI leave the buddleia pruning till November then just cut them to chest height.
ReplyDeleteYou do a great job of taking care of your garden, Sue. You certainly put me to shame!
ReplyDeleteI mow over my leaves and they decompose pretty quickly in place. When mowed and chopped up, leaves they do not blow around in the wind which is another plus. I also use a small tarp ( 9 x 12) to collect my hedge and ornamental grass cut-back bits. There are to many bits for the wheelbarrow and the tarp works well. My pots need cleaning too. There is lots to do right now, but the finish line is a little closer.
ReplyDeleteWe still have loads to do outside … pot cleaning included. I always try and remind myself how much my spring self will appreciate the work my winter self did when March comes around again 😀
ReplyDeleteOne more job to cross off the list. I must admit I have some outdoor work to do. I've been neglecting it. Sigh
ReplyDeleteWashing my pots will have to wait until spring now. We are under about 10" of snow right now.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.