What have you done in the garden today? Part 6

[MereDintofPandiculation]

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

Thank you for the new thread. Placemarking.

I have completely cleared a border that was full of things that were essentially nice enough, but had got too crowded, choked, etc, with the more fragile plants gradually fading away because the aggressive plants had sucked away all the air, light, nourishment, space.

For a few years I had pussyfooted around the problem, loathe to do anything drastic for fear of sacrificing good plants. But enough was enough and now I have a lovely blank canvas, with delicious clear brown soil chivied into a nice tilth.
I love autumn gardening, rediscovering lines and spaces after the frenzy of summer growth.

I've planted some crocus bulbs round the back edge of my lawn (tbd whether I'll regret it) and done up some pots of spring bulbs

@ReadWithScepticism Thank you so much for that thought. It is a lovely way of looking at it. In amongst the massive stems of my climbing rose are self seeded horse chestnut, elder and yet more Ivy. I can’t get it out without digging up the rose, so I’m going to just keep cutting back and hissing at them . Made the rookie error of carrying on until I was too exhausted to tidy up. But I came in and whined, and Dh is coming out to help, Result!

Sounds great, what plants did you find were aggressive and which ones did you leave in ? 😁 Learner here

I don't get enough time to have my garden how I want it. Today I mowed the lawn as it's nice weather. I don't think I mowed it last year at all and it suffered. I also removed some weeds and planted some bedding plants , in the warmest spots , that i sowed waaaay too late just because I thought there was nothing to lose.

Planted some tulip bulbs, some weeding, cleared some leaves and cut back a couple of plants.

Sat in it 😄

Actually I've been debating whether to risk moving a spiraea japonica for a second time to make room for (what I think is) a Weigela Pink Poppet which I've grown from a cutting. It recovered last time but I don't want to push my luck.

Also trying to work out where to put a rose we've been given.

While I'm here, we have a low growing acer. Can anyone recommend anything low that would grow in its considerable shade? Do geraniums cope in shade?

@Burntout101 The main culprit is something that might be called eutrochium maculatum (though I could be in a muddle because part of my brain is telling me its name begins with T or P).
It is a wonderful plant, a herbacious perennial that grows to around 6 ft and has lovely large purple flowers in late summer. But it grows so densely, and its roots are like a mass of concrete, so close to the surface of the soil that you can't really do any weeding (without a chisel).
Other culprits include grape hyacinths and flaming chives, which both make out they are all lovely and delicate but march through everything like an orc army.

('flaming' is my mild swearing, not a particular chive variety)

Thanks for new thread. Had another go ar DM’s front garden. Mostly peeling next doors ivy off her gate post. Very satisfying.

I cut a few hydrangea blooms to dry (which you do by putting them in water, I read). Then tidied up part of a border, found one very long and satisfying bindweed root, and cut some shrubs back. Glorious weather, had to stop due to plans but will be out again tomorrow.

I went to Bents and spent £70 on bulbs, as you do. Then came home, had lunch, swept up leaves, emptied some summer pots that had gone over, and planted some white hyacinths for forcing. I really, really struggle with Christmas as I have no family and it can be overwhelming and then the long winter months are awful. Last year a friend in Australia sent me a beautiful container of white hyacinths from Bloom and Wild, and I clung to watching these beautiful flowers emerge for weeks. It really made a difference to my mood. So this year I’m trying to anticipate my seasonal depression and head it off at the pass. These are the B&W ones.

Took down the sweet peas and harvested all the seeds (for next year and for our Scouts to use for a planned seedling sale fundraiser). Also harvested Cosmos seeds for the same purpose.

I repainted my potting table- almost all the paint had worn off

I went to the allotment, weeded a couple of beds and sowed some green manure. I then picked some cucumbers, runner beans, French beans, carrots, turnips and sweetcorn. This year wasn't as bad as I thought.

🤣

Following x

I intended to plant more bulbs this morning but had a lie in instead. I did pick off one yellowing leaf from my dwarf cherry though

Well done for using the beauty of nature to help you get through the worst of the winter @PauliesWalnuts those hyacinths look gorgeous. Are they scented?

I'm sure there will be a few of us hardy gardening types on here on Christmas Day who can keep you company. Being a SAD person myself, I find the best antidote to Christmas and SAD is to get out for a walk even though the light at that time of year in UK is poor. Any light is good, and if it's sunny, even better! Look after yourself!

Can anyone recommend anything low that would grow in its considerable shade? Woodruff, Galium odoratum. But if it’s a really low growing Acer like one of ours, there isn’t really room underneath - it’s 1 -1.5m spread and about 30cm high.

The ones in the photo were the gifted ones @daisychain01 and were gloriously scented. Not sure whether the ones I bought yesterday are as they were sold loose with little info, but even if not I’m hoping just the sight of them starting to grow will give me a lift.

The back garden lawn! No energy left to mow the front garden though but will do it during the week.

Also did a big clean up of the terrace paving to remove the seagull poo and fox mess. Bought the house recently and it looks like the terrace had not been cleaned for years! the stones are now several shades lighter :).

Planted new bulbs (iris) and removed lots of weeds.

Hi, I'm joining in as I've tried very hard to do stuff in our garden this summer. Normally DH is the gardener but he really doesn't had time of late so I'm trying to become green fingered! Yesterday I filled a load of pots on the patio with compost ready for bulbs and planted some ferns I bought a few days ago - under a tree in a wet part of the garden where nothing really grows. Need to actually plant the bulbs today! We have a big sunny border which I've tidied but it needs some stuff moving and does need more plants.

And we've got two tiny crab apple seedlings the council were giving out last year which I've had in a pot on the soil which needs planting out. Does anyone have any tips with these?