Still tidying up the main borders in the back garden, loads of debris to get rid of. Once this was done I gently forked over the earth, a few dips will require some top soil to even it up.
The main mixed border which has been extremely productive will benefit with a mulch of compost. I find this is a good time of year to apply a top dressing to your borders, by doing this you add much needed nutrients to the soil, and if you give a good two inch covering the roots of your plants will benefit from the added protection.
Our main border is about fifteen feet wide and thirty five feet long, and I have found that waiting until Spring to add a mulch is made all the more difficult with the shoots of bulbs popping through the soil.
Still waiting for some roses to arrive, this is a good time of year to be getting these planted, mind you I hope they arrive this week before we get in to the serious winter conditions. Still surprisingly mild at the moment, a warm jacket and a pair of boots and I can disappear outside for a couple of hours no bother.
The lawn I thought was feeling a bit spongy under foot. So I gave it a good spiking with the garden fork, perhaps a bit on the late side for this job, but probably better than becoming water logged.
If you have not already done so, I think that you should get those container grown plants in to the unheated greenhouse now. It really is surprising how many plants are lost with the roots dying off in a prolonged cold spell. In fact if you live in the north east it would be advisable to also wrap the pots in pollybubble.
© 2006 – 2008, Alistair. All rights reserved.
