What have you done in the garden today? Part 5

[MereDintofPandiculation]

What have you done in the garden today? What went well? What surprises have you had? What could have gone better?

My forget-me-nots aren't all quite over in the back yet, not sure if I'll have time to deal with them before we go away next week and the brown bin is already full. (This thread gives me severe compost heap envy ... I don't suppose there are any bins rat-proof enough to satisfy DH.)

I do just pull them up, @WoodBurningStov, I think most people do - just shake the plants to scatter the seed anywhere else you want them. If you leave them they'll go grey and mildewy. When you've pulled out the old plants you may see some new green seedlings already started.

@ErrolTheDragon have you had a look at the hot bins for composting?

Not recently... I should do some proper research and then that'll be my next birthday present sorted

I watered my new plants.

I have some more forget me nots that seeded in an old hanging basket to put in quickly as want them to seed around the garden.

Planted 2 foxgloves I swapped for some plants from the garden plus a self seeded foxglove from a pot. Split a hardy geranium and planted 2 bits out and took 2 bits off a white phlox. Love gardening when it is free and makes me feel better when I do buy plants.

I reading about all the forget-me-not love with a puzzled expression.

I've spent most of this year pulling up forget-me-nots that definitely have seeded all round my garden to the point I have little else.

If anyone wants some, you are all v welcome to mine!

@ErrolTheDragon I think you can get fancy composters that are like a barrel, they roll along and are rat proof. I can't remember where I saw it but it reminded me of those big water containers that people with caravans use.

@ErrolTheDragon ive got a hot bin, it’s good, but only put garden waste and veg peelings in. Some people compost meat etc….I don’t.

Excited about my plans for the tree root, it's really good shape and the perfect height to act as a bridge to my barrel pond, I'll plant some ferns and moss around it - it's all coming along.

Love your post @Sashikocheck as it reminded me of something that keep crossing my mind while I'm out enjoying tinkering in the garden - it's like playing isn't it? Like playing in a sandpit or with water - making things, building things, tinkering around with stones and wood and soil.

I think that's why I love it so much

I understand what you mean. I find it very difficult to find plant-free gaps for mulching, and as for mixing soil with my compost for potting up - not a chance. And I draw the line at buying soil.

Currently trapped in the summer house in an absolute deluge. Cat is also here.
Only one of us will come out alive.

Ah, it was nice knowing you.

I keep a spare umbrella in the greenhouse to avoid being trapped

Got some more golden raspberries from Asda last week and just got round to planting them.

Had a tiff with the neighbour because my raspberry beds - raised off the ground repurposed pallet planters to avoid roots spreading, are on the boundary, trellised, and it means she can't come and pop her head over to talk to us.

Its almost like the layout of the garden was strategically planned.

My tomatoes are looking a bit blighted, which is entirely my fault.

I bought rapunzels, knowing that they're a greenhouse variety, but I was obviously too ambitiously hopeful that we'd have a May like last year's, and hopefully a not too wet summer.

So when everyone is wondering why it's raining so damn much, sorry, it's me, I decided to be optimistic and I've ruined it for everyone by tempting fate.

We both escaped with our lives! But it was a close call.

I recieved another batch of mowings from the neighbours who mow our opposite neighbour's lawn. I really need to show them how to compost it properly as they were taking it to the tip. What a waste!

In return I gave them 30 odd strawberry plants.

Potted up some of the sweet peas, and potted on some of the cosmos after dinner - need to do more of them

14 dahlia now planted. Another 7 to go - probably not tomorrow if the BBC weather forecast is anything to go by (wet and windy most of the day).

Wednesday looks better so I'll spend a bit of time in the greenhouse tomorrow instead, getting the tomato plants ready to plant in the growbags, then outside again on .Wednesday .

DH got round to drilling 5 drainage holes in my 2 half-barrels. May drop by the garden centre tomorrow and get a few bedding plants to fill them up with colour,

Weeded my newly planted border - it's looking great. Only one dead plant and I'm blaming the nursery for that as it was sad looking on arrival.

Braved weeding the area I'd been putting off. It's solid grass. Turns out our lawn is smaller than I thought if I get back to the proper edge. However it was more like cutting turf than weeding.

A robin came to join me so at least someone was appreciating the work.

DH arrived to 'help' just as I filled the green bin, am sure he planned it

I got everything in that needed to be planted, always a good feeling, I will now attempt to not buy more plants until Gardener's World Live.

Weeded most of the front and back garden, just one side of what I grandly call the long border to do.

My only gardening today has been congratulating myself on unhinging the feed to the waterbutt, as it’s now full.

Unbunging, thank you autocorrect.

Planted my remaining three plants. I think I need one more for a pot in the front garden.

Used my new grass trimmer to trim along the remaining two sides of my back garden. It looks so much neater. That little hand trimmer is brilliant. Well worth every penny.

I worked on later than I'd planned. It was nice to hear the birdsong as I was working.

Tied up some everlasting sweet peas that were going awol, bought 4 red geraniums for £1.89 from aldi, added loads of dandelion leaves to my home brew fertiliser.

@NeverendingRabbitHole yes it's very rewarding creating a beautiful corner in your garden - playing with ideas, and not being scared to get things wrong. For so long the garden was another annoyance on my to-do list of household chores, applying a little bit of creative spirit changes your mindset.