Nailsworth Gardener: Gardening Tips For This Week

WELCOME TO MY POTTING SHED

You can't beat a dollop of mud a day to keep the Doctor at bay.

Why not follow me about as I garden for money and just for fun in beautiful Nailsworth and its' environs.

What's it all about?

My gardens, that's all and any gardening related stuff I guess you might be interested in.

Where do I garden?

My house is in the centre of Nailsworth. With the wind in the right direction, we get a strong whiff of curry as it floats out of the Passage to India and into our front garden. We never get this smell anywhere else on our premises, which is either a good thing, or a bad one, depending on your point of view. As you now know we have a garden, a small rectangle, at the front of the house, and a triangular courtyard garden at the back. Then there's the Garden Plot, right down in the heart of Nailsworth, which I rent from a local business. This is new as from Autumn 2009 and will take a lot of work to help it become productive. I try to garden for veges at my friend Debbis house and for fun with my next door neighbour.

It adds up to a lot of work. For a relaxing hobby, it's proving stressful at times, but, mostly it's heaven.

There are customers who like me to work for them right through the year, and others who I see during the summer months. This working more days a week in the summer than in the winter, of course. The way to keep the finances stable for me has been to teach on the days I don't garden. Works really well for me. The bills get paid, we haven't starved to death yet and we get to have fun ... sometimes!

Saturday 12 March 2011

Gardening Tips For This Week - Wednesday 2.3.11

This week is good for random tidying. Yes there's a mass of seeds to put in right now, but I don't have the time.

This shapely shrub has become surprisingly unkempt over the winter; sprigs have sprung and need a very quick snip with the secateurs.

A 5 minute job and the difference it makes to the look of the garden is immediate. As this plant is near the front door, it's doubly important that it looks as neat as possible at all times. It doesn't matter what the plant is, keep it smart if it's right where your visitors stare as they wait for you to get around to answering your door!

A similar job here. The client wanted this shrub to be lower and still have the red leaves on display. They had to come off the top, unfortunately, but I kept as many as I could around the sides.

It's still reasonably decorative, but is ready for next winter now - job done.

In the autumn, Japanese Quince, can be harvested and used to make a jelly, or it can be left to add colour to a dull area and food for the birds; in desperate times.

Moving swiftly on, these Chives are up and could be used in the kichen.

Weeding out these tiny plants is never ending, but by May, they'll be big and a real pain to get rid of. Flash over your gravel with a hoe now and there'll be no need for the EVIL WEED KILLER later.

From leafy wood chip mulch to just wood chip mulch. Use your hands for this. It is a slow task, so relax, and settle into it. It's a form of meditation and will bring down your blood pressure.