The Big Clear Up

Anna has been away for a few days, so I’ve had plenty of chance to get things done in the garden. I even managed to get Morgan out to help here and there.

It’s still quite wintry out there really with only a few signs of life. That’s the perfect opportunity to do some much needed clearing up while I can see what’s what before things start to grow. There was some sunshine to work in even if it was chilly out there.

Wintry Garden
Wintry Garden

I had a massive list of things to work through, and it seems to be getting longer. But lots have been ticked off over the weekend too.

Cleaning Up

I repotted a few things, including what might one day become bonsai trees. I’ve scrubbed the patio and cleaned out under the lean-to. This included getting all of my boats out for a good wash as well. I washed some of the walls of the house and some windows while I was at it. Everything was coated in a thick layer of sand from the recent storms. That’s not unsual here but it was worse than usual.

While I was out there, I touched up a couple of little stone chips in the white paint of the camper. It’s recently had it’s lower half re-sprayed which meant the little chips in the top half were more obvious – not any more! I also remembered that the roof rack had been taken off for the respray which meant that the holes it screws into were open to the elements. I found the blanking screws and put them back in and have started to do a bit of maintenance on the roof rack too. I also washed and polished the car and vacuumed the interior of both the car and the camper. You know what it’s like, once you start cleaning you just cant stop!

Garden Tasks

Trees and shrubs have been pruned and cut back, including all of the soft fruits. The pampas grass has had a major trim too. This always makes quite a mess so after that the lawns were raked and today I’ve put weed and feed on them.

The gravelled area has been tidied up. This included re-wring the garden lights, replacing a few lights that had stopped working and adding a new dusk-dawn sensor timer. The old one had stopped working so the lights weren’t working properly. All has been restored and tidied up. I also bought and built a new bench for the gravelled area. The old bench was sawn up a little and turned into a trestle style bench for the up and coming bonsai trees.

Various bits of weeding were done as and when I saw them, but I haven’t had a concerted effort to tidy up any of the flower borders quite yet. I did clear up quite a bit whilst re-wiring the lights though. The reds of the dog wood and red phormium always look nice at this time of year.

I’m also hoping to divide the huge Phormium that we have in the back garden and move some of it to the front garden. Not much will grow in the front garden thanks to the wind, but the Phormium should and it will add a touch of the tropics to the view!

Phormium

This isn’t easy so is still a work in progress. The location I want to put it in has proved difficult to dig. I’ve been gradually breaking up the shale and concrete with a pickaxe but need to make the hole a little wider and deeper before I can transplant the Phormium. No doubt dividing the Phormium itself will prove challenging too. I did however successfully manage to dig up a clump of iris and re-locate those to the strip of grass along the front fence.

The Apiary

The apiary has been tidied up too. I’m pleased to report that there were bees coming and going from two of the hives, and they seemed to be enjoying the crocuses in the garden. The hedges and bamboo around the apiary were brought under control somewhat as well.

All of this clearing up does however mean that the both compost bins are overflowing. Thats’ another job on my list. I’ll have to dig them out, bag up the good compost and turn over the rest of the material. Again, quite a big, strenuous job. Especially as the larger of the compost bins is in the apiary so needs to be done in a bee suit!

I added a couple of new ‘Metal Birds’ to the garden as well. A tiny little robin on the front gate and a larger Wren on the pergola.

Much to Do

There is of course loads left to do. The water feature needs cleaning out. At the moment if I turn it on the fuse trips. Hopefully it just needs a clean. All of the beds and borders need weeding, digging over, cutting back and mulching. The ‘hedges’ all need cutting back and there are a few repairs needed to the fence here and there. The shed needs painting as well.

I’ve also ordered some more log-effect edging strips that will need installing around the gravelled area. Grass seed has been ordered for some patches in the lawns too, so that will need sowing. I’ve even got an overhanging tree that needs to be cut down and chopped up into firewood. Talking of firewood, the storms damaged our log store. It was already very old and patched together so I think I’ll be ordering a new shed for the logs to go in soon. That will of course need building. I have however moved most of the logs out of the current one ready for that.

As always, the garden list is never-ending but it was nice to get on top of some of it.

Cat Nap

I was fairly sensible whilst out there. My recent heart attack and then sprained ankle means that I’m not quite as capable as I was this time last year. I’m feeling better on both fronts though and coped pretty well with a couple of decent days working in the garden. I did take some breaks now and then, and even chilled on the sofa with the cat in the evenings! I only mention this because the cat usually avoids me, but with Anna away it didn’t take long for her to decide she’d have to lie on me this weekend!

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Alan Cole

Alan is a Freelance Website Designer, Sports & Exercise Science Lab Technician and full time Dad & husband with far too many hobbies: Triathlete, Swimming, Cycling, Running, MTBing, Surfing, Windsurfing, SUPing, Gardening, Photography.... The list goes on.

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