When the hounds of spring are on winter's traces…...

[echt]

I realise it's later in the UK, but couldn't wait to start a new thread. If another title had been agreed, just tell me and I'll have this removed.

Other than that, seek out those deckchairs from the shed, check them for spiders and get nattering about the spring's promise.

I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on vine pruning, as mine has only recently got to the size where pruning is needed and I've never done it. It's an overgrown mess - hence I only spotted the bunch of grapes today - because the very natty support I constructed for it a few years ago has gone askew and I need dh's mallet-wielding strength to knock it back into shape before I tie the vine back on and chop off the excess. Worryingly, the RHS describes vine pruning as difficult.

Having just read the page and others to which it links, I realise I should have started the pruning regime years ago. Oh dear.

Ours is a mess too... Reading that link, I don't think it's ever been pruned or constrained in any way - half of it is in next door's garden. Maybe I'll just try to wrestle it back and rig up some sort of control measure for now. Good luck with the chopping!

I've been pondering since I read the RHS advice and it occurs to me that, as ever, what they're recommending is what to do for optimal results. But even my neglected, haphazardly-growing vine produced fruit last year, so I guess that even a badly-pruned vine will produce something. A couple of friends have vines that just run amok over fences and they still get plenty of grapes from them.

Vines! I'll be glad to grow tomatoes, beans, courgettes, squash, garlic, rhubarb, globe artichokes, salad, strawberries, raspberries and herbs. That's whats on my list for this year. Supposedly easy stuff. Though where it will all grow is another question.

I ordered my free hostas today =thanks for the heads up !

I need a potting shed, and a place to sow seeds and a place to put the plants I am overwintering and nurturing. So far I've got one of those small cheap three tier growhouae/shelf thingies, and all other plants are on a sheltered step near the house or on the verandah. The disadvantage of the growshelf thingie is that plants on the two lowest tiers don't get enough sunlight to grow as they are overshadowed by the plants on the highest tier. Otherwise I would get a couple more.

So I need a structure which is a potting shed and a greenhouse and takes up no space. Preferably but not necessarily in wood. Preferably which provides sunlight in a north facing shady spot. Which can also house tools and empty pots and stuff. Which is nice to look at. Does anyone know of such a structure?

I also need more pots. I have loads of plastic ones, but need more largish ceramic/terracotta ones, and wondered if anyone had come across any special offers as it is still theoretically winter. ?????

The advantage of vines is they can grow in the open in the south and they help provide a microclimate in the garden. The disadvantage is the grapes don't ripen and they are rampant with inconspicuous flowers. Monty grows his in his greenhouse (the Gabriel Ash one ) and as I recall pruned it last autumn.

I'm trying to provide a microclimate in the garden. A sunny frost free one. Hah.

didireallysaythat IIWY I'd save my energy, I grow my garden THROUGH the ivy and vinca/periwinkle which is pretty (good ground coverers in my book)it's not perfect of course I do have to keep them under control , but they also encourage the good insects that eat the nasties! And there's no bare earth for more weeds!!

Blackpudding There's no space for our record player really so i'm discouraging dh from resurrecting it!

Ref. vines we, of course, have a vine that grows all over the walls (on what was a communal well) I like it but the grapes are not tasty.

Funnyperson - in the back of one of the gardening glossies (probably The Garden) I've seen a lovely half-shed half-greenhouse, but it probably doesn't fulfil your requirements of taking up no space or creating its own sunlight. My best bargains in pots came from EBay, where I got a job lot of weathered terracotta pots for very little.

Morning all!

The person who write the gardening column in our parish magazine has described her Christmas present this month - a battery powered Bosch pruning saw which apparently has a thin blade and a lithium battery which holds the charge well. I want one!

No gardening here this w/e - what with the snow, PILs visiting, and working all day yesterday. Still, at least very little is growing! I need to finish the cutting back and then have a massive bonfire!

funny I'm not sure the link could be described as attractive but it's half greenhouse half shed!
www.summergardenbuildings.co.uk/products/garden-sheds/wooden-sheds-10105299.html

We had a vine in the last house, it belonged to our neighbours but covered our pergola. The grapes were nasty but I did like it. We never pruned it.

Glad to hear some others are trying cucamelons, I might try tomatillos too.

No gardening here lazy but I so keep checking on the seeds.

Oh Bramshott that pruning saw sounds ama zing I have idly thought of buying a small chainsaw ( I have to do a lot of pruning) our 'man what does' literally powers through the work it takes me much longer to do with a hedge trimmer (we've got a small battery powered one but it's not strong enough).

Ref. pots for funny We got the nicest ones ever from a 2nd hand place that sells stuff from old houses and demolition jobs. Also in sales at garden Centres.

I think it may be this

I am seriously thinking of getting one. Currently I use the hedge trimmer (no good for large stems), telescopic loppers, and then sweat with a bowsaw for the bigger bits because I am too scared to use DH's chainsaw (would undoubtedly cut off my arm before too long).

When my brother was a Scout, many decades ago, one of their fundraising activities was tree pruning with a chainsaw. It would never pass a risk assessment now (although he does still have all his limbs).

Scouts and chainsaws

Well don't go all 'elf and safety' Geoff !! It's best that they're trained properly to use them and they can then work in our gardens to earn a bit of pocket money grin]

But that's just the thing, ppeatfruit, I'm pretty sure my brother and his Scout mates weren't trained; they just hired the chainsaw and went out and did it. It was a different era!

It was indeed. but there's not much fun nowadays when you have to wear helmet for playing conkers or they chop the trees down, it's gone totally OTT (she said sounding like a right old fart!!).

I agree with you, ppeatfruit, although I believe some of the supposed restrictions imposed by health and safety are urban myths. There was an interesting interview with the chair of the HSE at the weekend.

2-3 workplace fatalities a week
I'd like some scouts to come and chop a couple of overhanging branches off the oak tree. And clear out the garage.
Thanks for the shed and pot suggestions.

Hyperhops, I love you a little bit for rescuing a little lost kitty and giving her a home.

I have an unpruned vine too. You are supposed to do them before the end of December, and I didn't. I'm now mulling over the way forward.

I would like a potting shed too. It would have to be high and airy though; I'm not good in sheds due to arachnophobia and related childhood shed traumas. When I had actual proper gardening jobs and I was asked by various head gardeners to "go and get x from the shed" I would always feel a little bit sick and hyperventilaty.

It's silly but I can deal with greenhouses much better, even though it is still a confined space that spiders love. I guess it's probably because it's light, so fewer dark corners to lurk in. They are still there but I can see them, and they know that I can see them, so they don't have the upper hand.

I need a little lie down now.

Oh dear rhubarb I won't ask you down here then we have a maternity ward and a school for spiders !

Ref. pruning vines we usuallly see the Fr. vineyard workers or owners out on New Year's day pruning their vines if you wait till the sap rises then they can 'cry' to death . According to Bob Flowerdew you have to cut and cut the leaves off them but IMO that's only if you want to make wine with your grapes so need a large yield.

Wow you have all got so much gardening done! I haven't done anything other then gaze forlornly out of the upstairs windows (currently unable to see the garden out of the downstairs windows for stuff being in the way). I have ordered some seeds as I fell in love with amaranthus last year so. Am going to have a go at that.

Am now taping the garden revival series and so far seem to have some of everything they are showing, not sure if this shows discerning taste or indecisive planting scheme!

I have a lot of ornaments in my garden as they are easy to look after, my favourite of course is the stone from york minister! I am going to try to create a brightly coloured bed as a stained glass effect to surround it. Am jealous of the idea of a rainbow bed though.

I will be doing a lot of pruning at my mums this year so that pruning saw sounds good

I was working flat out in January so didn't get to read this thread let alone do any gardening. It's ben nice to read it now though. Am hoping to get out at the weekend, but happily it's still looking pretty neat & tidy from the gardening lady's work last autumn. I might keep her on so I only need to do the bits I enjoy ( propagating) and not the bits I don't (general tidying)

Funny our local garden centre sells 'Yorkshire pots' which come in large sizes, are IMHO simple and attractive, made in UK, and often in a 'buy one get another half price' offer.

Anyone got any ideas for recycling corrugated metal sheets? The last people left a lot of it hanging about, I HATE it!

It's on the roofs of the petits tots and is used (sort of) instead of fencing, in parts of the garden. I thought I might bung it in the caves .