My gardening DIARY
MONDAY Alice, our youngest daughter is due to have her second baby, a boy, in mid-March. I’m in London helping her sort out her new garden, though looking after our granddaughter Sydney may take priority!
TUESDAY Po ing up hemerocallis ‘Stafford’ roots, which were lifted weeks or even a month ago. The old plants needed dividing but there are too many to go back. When they’re established in 2L pots we shall be able to find them a good home.
WEDNESDAY We’ve made a new path in the revamped bed at the bo om of the garden, now we’re placing stepping stones in the bigger planted areas so we’ll have easier access for maintenance. In summer, jungle-like growth made it impassable.
THURSDAY Our garden has heavy, moist soil, slightly on the acid side due to the constant addition of organic ma er. Moss thrives here so removing it in Alice and Annie's gardens is a priority. It’s beautiful but can impede growth.
FRIDAY Dean who works here one day a week is a dab hand at hedge laying. He’s making an excellent job of it. It had got out of control but he’s bringing order back to it, making it denser and much more wildlife friendly.
SATURDAY My favourite job (apart from playing with our granddaughter) has to be planting new hellebores, which Dean and his wife Emma collected for me from Ashwood. Thank you John Massey, they’re beautiful plants.
SUNDAY We've far too many dahlias, all in pots where they’ve overwintered in the tunnel. Now it’s time to pot them on, adding fresh compost ready to be watered to bring them into growth gradually.