popular What have you done today in the Garden?

More raking up of leaves this afternoon they tend to blow into the corners of the East Patio.

Found some more missed Geraniums ...one had grown huge ( how I missed it I really don't know!!) so I was able to split it into 3.

Checked on all the overwintering plants in the greenhouse and lean-to, had to remove a few naturally wilting leaves.

Planted out a couple more Heuchera divisions.

Such a shame the daylight hours are dwindling. Roll on the end of next month when the days begin to lenghten.

 

I put all of the fuchsias and trailing geraniums in the little greenhouse and put bubble wrap on the doors and roof.
Don't have trouble with leaves in my garden.

 

I don't really mind all the sweeping and raking of leaves , mind you not too sure I could cope with amount that Pac has!!. It's worth it to be surrounded by the beauty of trees and the wildlife they attract. Mustn't forget the added bonus of lovely home made leaf mould too!

 

Thankfully the temperature stayed at 78°f and didn't hit 81 as predicted. I watered my raised beds and washed and filled the bird baths.

 

Thanks Anniekay, you've reminded me that our bird baths need a clean and refill. Top of my list for tomorrow

 

Here in South Manchester, it's 10pm and the temperature is 4c (39f).

 

It's 9.30 am, it's bright and sunny, but the temperature is down to 3c.

Just in case, I think I'll turn off the water supply to the garden from the supply tap below the kitchen window and open the hose taps in the garden and the basin tap in the garage. The water heater in the garage has a frost stat position on the control, where I put it when I'm not using it. So that will be OK.
I can always turn things back on again when necessary.

Last year before a cold spell, I turned off the water, but forgot to open the taps and had found I had two bursts in the garage, when I turned them back on.
Fortunately, I always have some spare 15mm copper water pipe, connectors and olives, "just in case." So they were quickly repaired.
The lawn sprinklers I fitted, are never a problem, it's all "speed-ft" plastic pipe. They can unused for more than six months, but come on when necessary without any problems.

 

We turned of our garden water supply on Saturday.....a final acknowledgment that Winter is creeping on us.. As you said DhR it can easily be turned back on if needed.

 

I used outside water yesterday. My water pipe rises from the ground out front where the water meter is burried and continues just under the floor of the house. I have insulation on the pipes but the house is 30" above ground, an ample crawl space. I have vents along the foundation, eight of them that I have to close in winter. Then I disconnect and drain my water hoses. I have a styrofoam cover for the spigot and wrap a beach towel over it for good measure.

It was only two days below freezing so, the spigot is again naked and the hoses are all reconnected. So far so good. I haven't had any broken pipes, most of mine are PVC pipes.I had the plumbing all replaced in 2020 shortly after I bought the house. There were pipes under there with duct tape over the cracks which was not declared in the inspection. !!

Today I need to plant out a few more brassicas so that I have a longer harvest.

 

As it was fine weather today, despite being still only 4c, I sorted out both the shed and the garage and cleaned both. I'd a couple of wooden troughs to store over the winter, three hedgehog houses and two hedgehog feeders. The plan was to chuck out anything I don't think I'll ever use again. Sadly, "I couldn't find anything." Fortunately, I was able to accommodate everything.
The weather is not going to be very good over the next few days, so I'll leave returning the three troughs and about a dozen pots to the patio I've re-pointed until next week-end.

 

Welcome to Alabama. I turned off water when it hit 24f and turned it back on because we are back in the 80f highs this second week.

 

Our outside tap is in the garage as well as the stop tap, it's all lagged with that foam pipe lagging stuff.
Nothing to do in the garden today.

 

Nothing planned today, it's damp and still only 4c.
Chance of it being dryer tomorrow (a golf day) and Thursday, but more rain expected, on Friday and the week-end.
So I'll probably collect leaves on Friday, though there's still a lot more to come down from the Wisterias.

 

Nowt doing here either. We are on our city wanders today. Did notice that the Dahlias have had their 'cold hit" that will be tomorrows job of cutting them back and mulching over them insitu.

 

Today I cut down fig tree #4 and finished cutting down fig tree #3. I bought a new chain saw chain at the hardware store to do that. Those varieties are not suitable for this climate.

Looking at the row of fig trees, I think I'll remove two more. That will leave three of proven, reliable varieties, plus one that when it does bear, is super- good.

I was at the feed store and saw these, so bought them. Planted today in large containers.



Five eggs today.



Schlumbergera blooming



Leaf mountain. I might finish collecting leaves by the weekend. Maybe.