Busy days bring results
The ground is frozen solid so I have to resist the urge to do anything in the garden that could be detrimental. We have been able to carry out some jobs though. The wisteria has been pruned back to a neat framework with some of last year’s growth ready to be trained along wires to encourage it to grow further around the house. I don’t know how it will fare on the north wall, but we’ll give it a try. We have also had a couple of very busy weekends re-laying a native hedge. This has been a team effort with my husband masterminding operations, ably assisted by one of our sons and myself. The hedge was last done around seven years ago and it had grown far too tall and wide so it is good to sort it out again and tidy things up. Much of the hedge is hazel and although many of the stems have been cut and bent down to form the structure, we have been able to save plenty of really sturdy stems for bean poles. The twiggy tops have also been saved and are stacked up ready for use as pea sticks. The area I’m going to use for my cutting patch is right in front of the newly-laid hedge so when I wasn’t needed for tidying-up duties I spent some time covering the ground with black plastic to prevent too much weed growth, and also help to warm up the soil. I belong to the Hardy Plant Society and Cottage Garden Society and take part in their seed exchange each year. For a modest payment, it’s a good way of getting seed of unusual varieties. The first package of seeds has arrived and I’m just starting to sow some of them in the greenhouse.
Tales from a Country Garden 