Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Day 7 - the back nook

 We have a nook in the back garden.  A little corner that perfectly catches the morning sun.  It's hidden away so is a great place to disappear with a book (when it's not overgrown with weeds or cobwebs).  The dog loves to sunbathe on the decking in front of it.  Along the right hand wall is a wonderful climbing hydrangea in which blackbirds nested this Summer, along with a clematis that scrambles across the roof (and in through every gap it can find) of the nook.  There's a sickly gooseberry bush in a tub, next to that are some tree mallow and this Spring I planted a LOT of flowers (gladioli, lupins, fuchsia and many many more).

Today I just spent fifteen minutes tidying up this area.  I cut back a bit of grass and pulled up some euphorbia which was encroaching, trimmed back the clematis and weeded and swept the paving.
I'm amazed at the big difference just those few minutes can make.  Each time it's spurring me on to keep up with this challenge.

Time taken - about 15 minutes

Future tasks noted

  • We've got some yucky yucca just to the left of where I'm taking this photo.  They are huge and spiky and I know from last time I tried to get rid of one that they have deep and grasping roots.  They've got to go.  I hate them passionately.

Day 6 - a bushy haircut

The previous owner of our house was a big fan of grasses.  I'm not so keen.  I think they have their place.  They add a nice structural element to the garden and are pretty low maintenance, but they also get very big and take over the whole place.  I'm trying to reduce or remove a lot of grasses in our garden and replace them with edible plants or beautiful flowers. 
 I didn't actually dig this one out down to the roots, just pulled as much of it out as I could by hand.
The result is that I can see a few other leggy plants that need a bit of attention, but this bit of garden looks a bit tidier.

Time taken - about 10-15 minutes.

Future tasks noted:

  • plant Spring bulbs in this bed.
  • Get solar fountain for the pond and more pond plants ready for next Summer (read up on blue-green algae - I think we may have some in this pond!)



Saturday, September 4, 2021

Day 5 - a little trim around the edge

Day 4

A day off already!  I was at work all day and it was my birthday!  I'm sure I could have found a five minute slot for some gardening, but... it was my birthday so...

Day 5

Where I mowed the lawn and then trimmed back the plants that were hanging over it the other day I revealed some raggedy looking grass round the edge of the lawn (probably should have trimmed and then mown!).  This morning I took a large pair of scissors out with my while the dog was doing her business and just trimmed and tidied up this lawn edge.

Looking much better!  This 5 minute challenge might actually work!


Day 3 - just a bit of weeding

Just a quick bit of weeding in the back garden to tidy up the paving and the gravel.  It had got a bit untidy while we were away.

Now looking a lot smarter.

Time taken - about 10 minutes

Future tasks noted
  • the clematis will need cutting back sometime this autumn.  
  • I'd like to plant some spring bulbs and something for some winter colour in those planters - trip to the garden centre needed.
 

Day 7 - the back nook

 We have a nook in the back garden.  A little corner that perfectly catches the morning sun.  It's hidden away so is a great place to di...