The zombie army COVID-19 Gardening thread.
Discussion
loving some of the work here. AC43, that is impressive.
The recent rain seems to have kickstarted everything in the garden.
Including the weeds in the beds and the meadow grass in the lawn, of course. But wildflower seedlings are evident in the new wildflower bed, and as seen below giant allium have grown inches, the rose I massacred to knee height has a a dozen new shoots and leaves, and some gladioli shoots are now looking quite big.
My many lavender plants also seems to have grown two inches in the rain. I thought this stuff was meant to be barely be watered?
Excellently phallic allium:
3m straggly rose that I hacked down to knee height has come back to life;
Summer flowering bulbs are poking shoots out and growing fast. Given the time I have to kill whilst entertaining toddler, I chucked some bulbs I had in the ground. Mainly gladioli, African corn lilies and the excellently named gayfeather (also called prairie star, but that is less excellent so I don't use it).
The recent rain seems to have kickstarted everything in the garden.
Including the weeds in the beds and the meadow grass in the lawn, of course. But wildflower seedlings are evident in the new wildflower bed, and as seen below giant allium have grown inches, the rose I massacred to knee height has a a dozen new shoots and leaves, and some gladioli shoots are now looking quite big.
My many lavender plants also seems to have grown two inches in the rain. I thought this stuff was meant to be barely be watered?
Excellently phallic allium:
3m straggly rose that I hacked down to knee height has come back to life;
Summer flowering bulbs are poking shoots out and growing fast. Given the time I have to kill whilst entertaining toddler, I chucked some bulbs I had in the ground. Mainly gladioli, African corn lilies and the excellently named gayfeather (also called prairie star, but that is less excellent so I don't use it).
Edited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 29th April 07:35
Rain followed by sunshine - just what the garden doctor ordered!
In the foreground is star jasmine I planted last year on trellises flanking the kitchen door. Buds everywhere which is brilliant as the flowers make the kitchen smell great when you leave the doors open.
The garden is literally keeping me sane right now, I think. I took a pot shot at an encroaching fox with a BB pistol early this morning. I think i'm slowly losing it...
In the foreground is star jasmine I planted last year on trellises flanking the kitchen door. Buds everywhere which is brilliant as the flowers make the kitchen smell great when you leave the doors open.
The garden is literally keeping me sane right now, I think. I took a pot shot at an encroaching fox with a BB pistol early this morning. I think i'm slowly losing it...
Sway said:
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First is north facing, which we really struggle with at our last place. Seem to have found a combo of plants that are doing well with it though. Can't wait for the camelia to 'bush up' and fill in the corner.
Second is something entirely new for us - all bulbs. A real variety, in theory to give us some colour from late winter through to late autumn. It'll then have some truly obnoxious Halloween and Christmas displays! Only irritation is the "dwarf narcissus" clearly weren't - yet the "dwarf tulips" really are! Plus as it's the first year and we were quite late planting each species is being quite disorderly in their timing.
Both still works in progress as they mature and fill in - but happy so far!
Quick question on bulbs - am I right in thinking I can leave them in the ground, and they'll gradually reproduce into fuller clumps?
Question Sway - what plants worked for you in N. facing aspect? I have a bed to sort out that faces north.First is north facing, which we really struggle with at our last place. Seem to have found a combo of plants that are doing well with it though. Can't wait for the camelia to 'bush up' and fill in the corner.
Second is something entirely new for us - all bulbs. A real variety, in theory to give us some colour from late winter through to late autumn. It'll then have some truly obnoxious Halloween and Christmas displays! Only irritation is the "dwarf narcissus" clearly weren't - yet the "dwarf tulips" really are! Plus as it's the first year and we were quite late planting each species is being quite disorderly in their timing.
Both still works in progress as they mature and fill in - but happy so far!
Quick question on bulbs - am I right in thinking I can leave them in the ground, and they'll gradually reproduce into fuller clumps?
On bulbs, tulips generally only flower the first year, I believe and then you need to get rid and plant new ones. Hassle. Look at Species Tulips (the less flamboyant wild variety)
PositronicRay said:
Climbers given time, can get huge, mine unchecked pull fences down.
Prune to keep it in order.
I can attest to this. We had a giant climbing rose that had grown unchecked in the 9 years this house was neglected. I cut through the biggest cane (a couple of inches diameter) to kill it as it was growing into trees, a couple of years back. The plant was not flowering as it got no sun, but it had grown huge.Prune to keep it in order.
I cut down two bay trees this weekend. The dead rose d branches came down with them, and I was able to properly see it for the first time. It was the same height bays(8m) and had spread through both trees, so a width of around 6m. Enormous.
Nice! I love little projects like that. This weekend I will be making boot storage shelves for the hallway from some leftover 28mm thick ash worktop.
On the plants advice, thanks all. Question - my north facing border is under some large trees. I got more light into it by chopping down two trees last weekend, but it still gets little direct sunlight.
There are two old climbing roses in there. I cut them back every year, and they grow back metres every year. They have never flowered: I assume from lack of light. Do your clematis etc manage to put on a show in low light?
On the plants advice, thanks all. Question - my north facing border is under some large trees. I got more light into it by chopping down two trees last weekend, but it still gets little direct sunlight.
There are two old climbing roses in there. I cut them back every year, and they grow back metres every year. They have never flowered: I assume from lack of light. Do your clematis etc manage to put on a show in low light?
I have a couple of the bright barked Acers on order to brighten up a couple of areas which get morning shade, especially near an oak tree. Plan is to use them as focal points in a species tulip bulb garden that gets lots of spring light from late morning before the oak comes into leaf and then is partly shaded during the summer. The small Acer we planted a year ago is thriving in a partly shaded corner.
Have also just ordered a Hotbin composter to go with the Bosch garden shredder.
This gardening thing is proving to be expensive, despite the application of man maths. Almost certainly cheaper to cart waste away and buy compost at the scale I need. But new toys can be bought, so the usual bloke logic has been applied.
Have also just ordered a Hotbin composter to go with the Bosch garden shredder.
This gardening thing is proving to be expensive, despite the application of man maths. Almost certainly cheaper to cart waste away and buy compost at the scale I need. But new toys can be bought, so the usual bloke logic has been applied.
Not enjoying these updates of perfect lawns and pergolas. My garden is a mess after some heavy tree pruning last weekend. I have a long way to go to get to where you guys are.
Happily, this (not so little - b
d heavy and quite big) fella arrived today. Hilariousy easy to use, realy very quiet, and guns through thick branches with eased. Today's diet has been bay, oak and damson (chopped up for composting) and leylandii and yew (for a poisonous mulch for areas where I wish nothing to grow until the stuff rots down and can be used as compost).
Very very fun to use. Have not got tired of watching branches the size of small trees disappear into its gullet and come out as chips.
20200505_183237 by baconrashers, on Flickr
20200505_183244 by baconrashers, on Flickr
Happily, this (not so little - b
d heavy and quite big) fella arrived today. Hilariousy easy to use, realy very quiet, and guns through thick branches with eased. Today's diet has been bay, oak and damson (chopped up for composting) and leylandii and yew (for a poisonous mulch for areas where I wish nothing to grow until the stuff rots down and can be used as compost).Very very fun to use. Have not got tired of watching branches the size of small trees disappear into its gullet and come out as chips.
20200505_183237 by baconrashers, on Flickr20200505_183244 by baconrashers, on FlickrShredder has made short work of the 8m Bay trees, feral climbing rose, two 4m yew trees and various oak and leylandii branches i took down a couple of weekends ago.
Just some trunks left, which I can chop up and season for firewood.
That tool was worth every penny. I have lots of mulch (the poisonous evergreen stuff will be used in areas where I want nothing to grow) and compostable matter.
Just some trunks left, which I can chop up and season for firewood.
That tool was worth every penny. I have lots of mulch (the poisonous evergreen stuff will be used in areas where I want nothing to grow) and compostable matter.
Love these flowering pics! I'd love some wisteria but have no beds near the house at the front and I guess it is too big for containers. Our house is west facing so averything at the front takes a beating from the sun.
More tree pruning to feed the shredder today. Neighbour's oak that was shading part of the lawn and borders has had a haircut.
More tree pruning to feed the shredder today. Neighbour's oak that was shading part of the lawn and borders has had a haircut.
PositronicRay said:
Buoyed with enthusiasm propagating rosemary and lavender last yr (I now have a new fledgling hedge with loads left over/given away) + ferns divided, an unidentified bush layered, hellebores and alpines successfully transplanted.
I realise I won't have to buy any more new plants. Ever. I've been prowling round with secateurs and hormone rooting gel looking for victims.
Clematis of various types are falling pray, as will a Choisya,
What else should I look out for? Happy to nick (with permission of course) from neighbours, whilst out for my constitutional.
Ray, where do you do the propagation? Do you have a greenhouse?I realise I won't have to buy any more new plants. Ever. I've been prowling round with secateurs and hormone rooting gel looking for victims.
Clematis of various types are falling pray, as will a Choisya,
What else should I look out for? Happy to nick (with permission of course) from neighbours, whilst out for my constitutional.
Something I have never tried but would like to...
For some reason my garden in London has been flowering late (Alliums, anyway). This could be due to it being a bit sheltered. But now, time for some pretty flower pics!
Wallflowers. These have been awesome - basically in flower since early March.
20200524_180739 by baconrashers, on Flickr
And alliums! The big purple ones came first, then the white ones, and the burgundy ones are just staring. These are all pretty big, with stalks between 2 and three feet and flower clusters 4-6 inches wide.
20200524_172914 by baconrashers, on Flickr 
20200524_172128 by baconrashers, on Flickr
20200524_172121 by baconrashers, on Flickr
Wallflowers. These have been awesome - basically in flower since early March.
20200524_180739 by baconrashers, on FlickrAnd alliums! The big purple ones came first, then the white ones, and the burgundy ones are just staring. These are all pretty big, with stalks between 2 and three feet and flower clusters 4-6 inches wide.
20200524_172914 by baconrashers, on Flickr 20200524_172128 by baconrashers, on Flickr20200524_172121 by baconrashers, on FlickrCharlesdeGaulle said:
I like it. Mirrors generally work well in gardens, and they need to be on the large side rather than too small. Keep it, but maybe soften the edges a little more.
I'm glad your passage is attracting admiration.
I like the mirror! Paint the frame a cool colour and distress it a bit. Job done.I'm glad your passage is attracting admiration.
ETA - holy hell, that is some garden transformation!!
On the aphid thing, I did a water spray with a tiny bit of white vinegar and fairy liquid in it. Seems to have worked a charm.
I have sadly gone completely nuts on ordering plants for the borders, having seen some inspirational gardens in our street. Multiples of the following are arriving at some point this summer.
Lavender Rosea
Astilbe
Salvia
Sea Holly
Thistles
Red Hot Poker Plant
Acer
And bulbs for winter planting pre-ordered:
Alliums
Crocuses
Species Tulips
Having time on your hands is not good for the wallet.
I have sadly gone completely nuts on ordering plants for the borders, having seen some inspirational gardens in our street. Multiples of the following are arriving at some point this summer.
Lavender Rosea
Astilbe
Salvia
Sea Holly
Thistles
Red Hot Poker Plant
Acer
And bulbs for winter planting pre-ordered:
Alliums
Crocuses
Species Tulips
Having time on your hands is not good for the wallet.
I bought a number of each (got discounts with numbers) to try in different positions in the garden - if two thirds survive, I'll be very happy!.
Astilbe especially I have had problems with in the past (died despite being in a nice, partially shaded spot). Going to be doing a bit more prep before putting them in the ground this time.
All tips and tricks welcome!
Astilbe especially I have had problems with in the past (died despite being in a nice, partially shaded spot). Going to be doing a bit more prep before putting them in the ground this time.
All tips and tricks welcome!
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