Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May: Alternative potting shed thread

[funnyperson]

On the grounds that potting sheds should admit those of all cultures here is an alternative potting shed thread. Probably makeshift and not as posh as the other one. Definitely subversive and open to gardeners of all capabilities.

Thank you Maud. I have spent a lot of time admiring it :). I weeded and dug over a border that had been covered with grass (my Dutch hoe was a miracle discovery) and that was the nicest strip of mud I'd ever seen. I've planted bedding, discovered that a clematis, fuschia and honeysuckle I thought were dead are now growing, and started training along the fence a beautiful climbing rose that survived my neighbour's cull. DD (nearly 3) can also now operate the tap on the water butt and takes herself round the garden with her little watering can. I've tidied up some other well-established bits and DH has been mowing religiously.

Unfortunately there is also now a monstrosity in it. I have only myself to blame. I underestimated how much impact a 12ft trampoline for DD's birthday present would have. Still, it went down well at her party on Saturday and she, her baby brother (and I) will get years of fun out of it!

I see a few people are in our area - we're not far from Gravetye either, will look into those events.

Sounds as if your gardening time has been very well spent, Parsnip! We never had a trampoline - the lawn is far too small - but the best accommodation I've seen (in one of the magazines, probably) is to sink it to ground level and then, when the children outgrow it, use the massive hole for sunken seating and/or a fire pit. That would mean an awful lot of digging though!

Hoes are great! Some of my garden is too densely planted to use one

... And it does mean you might lose 'good' seedlings, but for massive weed clearance without chemicals and without breaking your back, they're very useful.

Festive looking garden with added trampoline.

That looks perfect for a summer party!

Lovely garden parsnip

Dds 10 foot trampoline made such a large impact we moved house! Not really but as soon as it was up I hankered after a bigger garden. They are 10 and 12 now and the 10 year old is on it most days so I think I have to put up with it a bit longer.

Digging down is a great idea but we didn't get round to it.

I think that much digging is beyond us too!

I have a question. There is a hugely overgrown apple tree on the lawn. We've done nothing with it in the 3 1/2 years we've been here, same with a large holly and rhododendron. Is it best to get a professional, for safety and keeping the trees alive?

I do love a bit of bunting!

Our neighbour sunk his 12ft trampoline. Looks great but cost him many £1000s to do and it has to have a pump fitted to pump out the water that collects in it. Also, you'd think it would be safer but the kids use it to do tricks across running from one side to the other. Changes how you use it.

I think it depends on how large is large, Parsnip, but I'm very nervous about tackling fruit trees, so would tend to get a professional in for that. (In fact, I am contemplating asking someone to come and do a massive reduction of one of my apple trees, as dear Monty did with his). Whether I got a professional in for other things would depend in part on whether I could reach/manage with the tools I have; if it meant buying (say) a telescopic cutter I might just spend the money on professional help.

Snap parsnip Dh and I have been having the same conversation regarding our very old Bramley apple tree and pear. I don't want to kill them so will probably get a professional in. In my neck of the woods though there are lots of tree surgeons not all qualified stares at friends Dh who is going no where near them

There is a hugely overgrown apple tree on the lawn. We've done nothing with it in the 3 1/2 years we've been here

The rule of thumb is if you start pruning it then you have to continue...if it is producing apples and you are unsure how to prune it, I'd just leave it. If it is evident that it has been pruned in the past and needs it doing again then then I'd get a professional in as firstly you have to know what sort it is before setting to work on it...also pruning for fruit is different to pruning to keep the size down.

Dh and I have been having the same conversation regarding our very old Bramley apple tree and pear. Bramleys fruit on the tip, not the spur so if you prune it the way you would usually prune an apple, you will never get fruit. This is why you have to know what sort it is!

The apples on the two trees in our garden are large, tasteless and many: we prune to stop Then coming. The same type was in our old garden - this town seems to have been surrounded by orchards producing horrid apples in the 1920s that were grubbed up to build in the late 20s.

Thanks doreen we'll leave it then.

Thanks. We'll leave ours alone too. It has small, sweet apples that seem to come every other year.

If you do decide to get someone in, be careful. As Geoff says, there are professionals and professionals. Even fully qualified tree surgeons who are excellent on the whole often have a tendency to over-prune fruit trees. You would need to find a fruit tree specialist who could do the work over three years, taking off just a little each year, to avoid the tree going nuts and producing copious water shoots (which don't fruit).

The holly and the rhododendron on the other hand can be hacked back as you please!

I have lost my lad. Someone offered him a full time job. .

Oh Rhubarb, the bastards !

My truck driver came round last night. We're getting materials and paying for car repair and he is coming round in a couple of weeks to put gate and fence up. He was very apologetic, not particularly about the bump but for the abuse his Rentagob ex colleague gave me, lovely young lad, landscaping is his part time job to fund him through college. We'll need some more fencing in the future so will put some paid work his way.

Mt sweet peas are particularly floriferous for their size this year plus have lovely long stems. Also spotted a flower on the perennial sweet pea which has been shunted around so never flowered.

I took the massive Weigela down which was sad but it has growth at the bottom still and was leaning forward much too far. Plus pruned the pyracantha that was getting out of hand by the kitchen window.

At least the whole thing seems to have had a silver lining, Sugar - he sounds like a useful contact.
I've picked my first bunch of sweet peas this morning - they're on my desk and the perfume is divine.

My sweet peas are very behind!

Mine too

Funny (or indeed anyone else) are you going to the Gravetye open day thing? I was so inspired by the GW feature on the garden at Gravetye, I have got myself a ticket.

I probably won't go to Hampton Court - I need to spend some time in the garden this weekend.

Your garden looks lovely parsnip.
We sunk a trampoline in the ground, you need a digger though, it would take months to dig a hole. Looks amazing though, God how I hated that monstrosity.

Off to sew some festive bunting????

bearleigh yes though not the posh lunch but hoping they will let me in to Fergus talking about Great Dixter
parsnip lovely garden.
rhubarb thats rotten luck. Still, now you may find someone similar.

How lovely is this? Seen on a bit of dumping ground near where I work. I shall be back for some seeds...

That is indeed lovely, Hap.

I would've loved to have gone to the Gravetye event but it's the dc's ballet show that day. I am aiming to go to Hampton Court on the Sunday, though I have yet to buy a ticket.