Wednesday 5th November
Another drab drizzly day, but have some help today. Peter came to build me a raised box to grow the blueberries in. He used the wood from the pallets and soon had it done, despite the damp conditions. While he was busy I took the runner beans out, leaving the roots in the soil to add nitrogen. I needed a place to compost the bean plants so started clearing out the compost bin from the other half. I cut back all the nettles and the blackberries which were growing over the top, and found a white plastic chair underneath, which had been quite invisible. I also found lots of wire netting rolled up and with grass growing through - that'll come in useful when the grass has died off. There were huge amounts of large woody clippings, probably from the buddleia trees last year and not suitable for a compost heap at all. I removed these and added them to the ever growing 'bonfire' heap. The remaining smaller woody debris I raked and removed to the fire bin. Whoever made this compost heap wasn't much of a gardener as there were also quite a few plastic bags. We attempted to get a fire going but everything was too damp. When we finally got to the bottom we were surprised to see that the 'bin' was quite a substantial size, although not actually very practical - too high, too wide and too deep. Also there are large gaps in the sides. We propose to take down the height, fill in the gaps at the sides and put a divider in the middle. It also needs a removable front. While I was doing that Peter cut back the buddleia - there were four huge bushes. He used his saw to take them all back to the ground, apart from one which we left about 12" above the ground. No doubt they'll all come back next Spring anyway. We later found two smaller buddleia's - perhaps they seed themselves - we could go into business! We eventually got the fire going - reluctantly - with the help of some paraffin, and got rid of much of the drier rubbish from the compost heap. I also started to clear the weeds away from the fruit bushes on the other half. Some bushes were completely blanketed in bindweed. I think there are redcurrants, blackcurrants and a gooseberry bush, although it's hard to tell at this time of year. I didn't need to have ordered any new fruit bushes after all. I found evidence of a path next to the hedge at the northern side of the plot, closest to the river. The nettles were 5 feet tall here, but came out fairly easily, and I also cut back the hedge. Peter cut back the grape vine and hammered in the supports a bit. The whole place looks so much more open now, and less daunting.
When we got home we invited the family next door if they'd like to join us one weekend for a bonfire. The youngsters seemed enthusiastic.
Another drab drizzly day, but have some help today. Peter came to build me a raised box to grow the blueberries in. He used the wood from the pallets and soon had it done, despite the damp conditions. While he was busy I took the runner beans out, leaving the roots in the soil to add nitrogen. I needed a place to compost the bean plants so started clearing out the compost bin from the other half. I cut back all the nettles and the blackberries which were growing over the top, and found a white plastic chair underneath, which had been quite invisible. I also found lots of wire netting rolled up and with grass growing through - that'll come in useful when the grass has died off. There were huge amounts of large woody clippings, probably from the buddleia trees last year and not suitable for a compost heap at all. I removed these and added them to the ever growing 'bonfire' heap. The remaining smaller woody debris I raked and removed to the fire bin. Whoever made this compost heap wasn't much of a gardener as there were also quite a few plastic bags. We attempted to get a fire going but everything was too damp. When we finally got to the bottom we were surprised to see that the 'bin' was quite a substantial size, although not actually very practical - too high, too wide and too deep. Also there are large gaps in the sides. We propose to take down the height, fill in the gaps at the sides and put a divider in the middle. It also needs a removable front. While I was doing that Peter cut back the buddleia - there were four huge bushes. He used his saw to take them all back to the ground, apart from one which we left about 12" above the ground. No doubt they'll all come back next Spring anyway. We later found two smaller buddleia's - perhaps they seed themselves - we could go into business! We eventually got the fire going - reluctantly - with the help of some paraffin, and got rid of much of the drier rubbish from the compost heap. I also started to clear the weeds away from the fruit bushes on the other half. Some bushes were completely blanketed in bindweed. I think there are redcurrants, blackcurrants and a gooseberry bush, although it's hard to tell at this time of year. I didn't need to have ordered any new fruit bushes after all. I found evidence of a path next to the hedge at the northern side of the plot, closest to the river. The nettles were 5 feet tall here, but came out fairly easily, and I also cut back the hedge. Peter cut back the grape vine and hammered in the supports a bit. The whole place looks so much more open now, and less daunting.
When we got home we invited the family next door if they'd like to join us one weekend for a bonfire. The youngsters seemed enthusiastic.
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