A Wet and miserable day in november
It is no coincidence that my first blog post is on a wet and cold day in late November! Sometimes the day you had planned just isn’t going to be feasible in wet conditions. It is always an anxious time of year for me; the nature of the work changes considerably and I must adapt to ensure I can continue earning. The Autumn has been quite dry and mild until today and many plants are still blooming. Salvia “Hot Lips”, Fuscias and Roses are still holding onto their flowers, although that will likely change now the temperature has dropped. Sedum “Stonecrop” are still colourful and Mahonias are in full bloom providing some much needed colour in an otherwise drab time of year.
The leaves have been falling steadily from the trees for the last few weeks which has provided ample opportunity for an abdominal workout with my rake. Leaves make for a good mulch and can be heaped onto flowerbeds (avoiding covering the plants of course) or piled into enclosures to rot down into leafmould. Leafmould is a great resource, especially when combined with other compost to bulk it out or dug into clay rich souls, which we have in spades (pun very much intended) in this part of the world.
The recent dry weather has allowed me to continue trimming the lawns, in previous years the wet conditions make it awkward and messy; the grass doesn’t collect properly leaving unsightly lumps of grass debris on the lawn and the wheels leave marks. If left uncut, the lawn looks untidy for the whole winter so I am pleased I have been able to continue maintaining the lawns until now! Now is a good time to re-edge your lawn borders using a Dutch Hoe and Edging Shears. If you combine this with the adding of mulch to your beds then you will create a crisp edge and a pleasing distinction between the two zones. Adding manure to your flowerbeds (under the mulch) will ensure maximum fertility for the following year. Mulch will significantly slow down the spread of weeds and any that do push their way through will be far easier to pull out without needing to dig deep. It is best not to disturb the soil if it can be helped so the structure is maintained and microorganisms, fungi and roots collaborate for maximum vitality. Work smarter not harder!
If you haven’t yet planted your Spring bulbs then now is the time. Also, digging up your Dahlia bulbs to store over winter will ensure they survive. Make sure they are dry and free from damage or disease before storing them in screwed up newspaper in a cool dry place.
I have dug out my merino wool thermals and waterproof coat. I now must dig deeper for my internal resolve to get out there and work in miserable conditions! This is the trade-off for all those warm sunny days I enjoyed over summer! Stay warm and merry!
