Autumn Bits and Bobs.

[Clive.]

Doing a bit in the garden here..rather than there..
I felt the roadside entrance needed a quick sort so I have ritted back the grass edges, back to the concrete edge. I have always known half moon lawn edging as ritting but that word seems to puzzle some...so it's quite likely a Lincolnshire thing to rit.??

Then got the Rover mower out and trimmed the roadside frontage. I can hear the mower going next door now so seem to have set a trend for the day Too good weather to miss the chance

I hand weeded the narrow strip sides by the wall and topped off with some compost from the heap...so that's ready for the pink hyacinths one side and the species like bright red tulips the other to do their thing in Spring, both have been there years and owe it my dear late mum to keep that bit looking good even when the bulk of the garden is once more beating me...

C.

[oldherbaceous]

Morning Clive, glad you explained ritted, not a word I have heard before, I must admit!

My allotments have got away a little again this year, loads of chickweed on them, as it’s been just too wet to hoe them and with this mild Autumn, is growing like fury…..been considering packing one of them up, as my back/hip is getting considerably worse…..never thought I would be saying that!
Bet your Mum’s borders will bring many happy memories, when theSpring comes….

Just been and hand weeded a 2 foot by 80 foot strip of ground, ready to plant Onions sets….took ages, as this had lots of chickweed in it too.

[Clive.]

Yes, it does seem to be the Autumn of Chickweed....the work vegetable areas are similarly afflicted.. It has at least become workable to get a border there lifted out at the end of last week...ok as long as weather holds....
I keep thinking...back in 2011 autumn, I think I'm correct with the year.. it was so dry at this time of year that in lifting out herbaceous border plants the soil was just crumbling away as I lifted them out for splitting, etc...trend seems otherwise at the moment...

Lunch consumed...and having a few mins watching the activity at Grosmont station... https://www.nymr.co.uk/grosmont-webcam

C.

[Geoff]

Just had the mower out - not bad for 3rd November though a bit dark on a dismal grey day. Picked the last of the apples this weekend, Bramley and Granny Smith. Picked last of sweetcorn but not quite the last of the tomatoes. Cleared away the runner and French beans. Having what looks like a nice savoy for dinner.

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[Clive.]

Grey here for most of the day but with a brief glimpse of sun around lunch time.

I didn't quite have the energy of yesterday...but this morning hand weeded a narrow strip alongside the front lawn and like yesterday topped it off with several buckets of compost from the heap.
This afternoon after a dose of cheese on toast followed by some toasted Lincolnshire plum bread I started to do a bit in the back garden...hand weeding of the raspberry rows. Not in too bad order but a few dandelion to knife out and a lot of tiny rosette of willowherb.. I got it sorted but maybe had overdosed on lunch for bending and kneeling.!

C.

[oldherbaceous]

I managed to get the 220 onion sets in, so pleased about that, then harvested a big bucketful of beetroot for my Mum.
Need to cut the grass over the allotments again, as it’s nearly 4 inches tall….maybe tomorrow!

[retropants]

I managed to get the grass cut yesterday, much better it looks too! We have now 3 Hedgehog visitors every night, they are eating a huge amount! Hopefully they'll find the hibernation house we built for them last year. They are funny little things, nearly tipping themselves over trying to scratch their backs. They must be infested with fleas and they poop a LOT! At least they are nice and fat for the winter, fingers crossed.

[Westi]

No hedgehogs in my patch at all, I'm really jealous retropants, before we got new neighbours several years back they had access & would visit.

Today I managed to get the outside flower beds all cut down, tidied & mulched, excluding the ground elder section which was sprayed as per the garden professional guys dilution witches brew. Even did the inside fence row on one side. Only one person walked past so limited interruption from the four legged under gardener! 2 beds left to sort on this side, one will be transferring the onion seedlings to their proper home & the other is a weed & then both these shut down & covered for winter. Asparagus finally yellowing so that will be next project!

[retropants]

Honestly Westi, we are so surptised to have even one! Then the others joined him at the party food table and now we have three! We are honoured!

[Westi]

4 beds completed today, not closed yet as ran out of time, but I've only got to cover them. I transferred the onion seedlings I had popped in one bed as they were getting too big for their pot but now they are in their intended spot with their mates. Next time I'm down I should be able finish the front of the tunnel raspberries & strawberries & then move down to the asparagus beds at the back as finally they are completely yellow!

Temp is still holding in double figures so looks like I will be weeding for a bit yet, but at least being able to close & cover some beds has reduced that task considerably. Optimistic enough to be starting my list of non growing jobs, like painting & sorting the shed & moving or fixing things which should keep me warm enough during winter proper.

[Westi]

Well I kept up my motivation & cleared the 4 raspberry & strawberry beds in front of the tunnel. All the dahlia's there cut down & cleared & only about 2ft left to weed. I have to thin the dahlia tubers as looking congested then a big mulch & that is all the front of the plots sorted. Timely as the asparagus is finally yellowing so I can move to the back & sort them & the other few area's down there. I'd pat myself on the back but can't reach!

[Westi]

Today I worked on the home beds which I have been neglecting & all done, including pruning the trees. Well pruning might be a big exaggeration when it comes to the fig, it got a really big chop as got right out of hand. I really don't mind if it dies but they are so tenacious it would take TNT to kill them! I will be loosing a bed on one side when the garage is done, not completely as there will be some room either side of the sliding door so will be able to pop some things in here for some colour & still have the other side & beds at the back.

Now the inevitable question. Next job is to re-pot my roses to save them for relocation when the work is done. I have bought some big('ish) pots, for these but wondering how severe to chop them for potting on including trimming the roots. They are well established & been in about 20+ years so very tall & thick prickly stems. Also wondering if OK to relocate the bulbs I have in this bed now only 1 or 2 showing any tips coming through. Do I trim the roots on these to move them or dig bigger holes? They will move down the back along the school fence as now the school is getting regular visits from the groundsmen they are slowly tackling the ivy & honey suckle so much more light getting in & I'm making friends with them, hey they like chocolate! Anyway only breaking them in slowly, in the hope they will continue this work & tackle the ivy growing up the tall concrete post right in the middle of my back fence.

[Westi]

Well the drawings have been done for the garage conversion, looking pretty good, but one or two things to sort like ownership of the little path between us & the neighbours, but I know it is not ours but a fire escape for the middle terrace in block next door. It's been a long time since we bought our house but I do recall being told we have access rights only. They want to use a brick width of it to give us more space but pretty sure that will be a no. It's only that & a letter from DWP that Steve is receiving disability, not just a pic of his bank statement, then submission & it will go to the planning group.

Nice sunny day on the plot & finished the front inside the fence beds, split the Dahlia's & mulched them all. Emptied the flooded bed which was soggy as usual & most of the carrots were rotten, not just their swimming abilities contributed to this; as lots of munching on these as well. Then I harvested the sweet potatoes, not as many as usual years & one clump had disappeared completely...think the tunnel going under the tunnel skin was a give away to who was responsible for that! But harvest might be smaller in number but fair size & very limited skinny ones in the mix. Looking forward to finally be moving down the back to tackle the Asparagus now as I've been getting caught up in too many chats being at the front!

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[Geoff]

The bulb moving should be fine even if you trim the roots a bit presuming they are narcissi, might reduce their flowering in 2026 if they can't recover enough to build the bulbs back up after next year's flowers. Roses are strange plants, they never seem to me as though they have enough roots. They've got to be moved anyway so just fit them in the pots as best you can and hard prune the tops I think would give you the best chance. Have you somewhere where you can use the prunings as cuttings as a back up?

[Westi]

Thanks Geoff,

At the end of the day they only have 2 options, survive or die, but I'd prefer to try to keep them if possible seeing they have been part of the garden for so long, so will give them the best chance. Good idea re; some prunings for back up as well, had not thought of that.