Salix sepulcralis 'Chrysocoma' (Golden Weeping Willow)

On the 16th January the team spent the day working on the lakeside border removing overgrown shrubs and an old willow tree that had fallen into the lake, see blog entry 'Opening Up The View'. A new Golden Weeping Willow, Salix sepulcralis 'Chrysocoma' was planted today, next to where the old one had once stood. The new willow is a fast growing deciduous tree with narrow pale green leaves on yellow pendent stems producing yellow catkins in April, a beautiful addition to the lakeside border.
 



An Amendment To The Stone Edging

The stone edge along the front of the new winter themed border in the Provost' garden was finished last Thursday morning. On Friday a large laurel was removed from the front corner and, because of this, a slight problem was identified, the edge was too straight, not enough curve! This morning Kieron and Anna made the amendment.

Removing the offending stones they marked out the new curve and carefully relaid them all.



The new shape now matches the stone edge opposite, all that remains to be done is to repair the path with a new layer of hoggin.


Cutting Down The Ornamental Grasses

Twelve months ago the team planted grasses in two newly transformed borders up at the college's Canal Building site, see blog entry '113 Grasses & A New Stone Edge' dated 22nd March 2012. Those grasses are now ready for their first cut down, having given a lovely display during the late summer/autumn period.

Ali and Sophie were given the task to cut them down, and as planned when they were planted, a hedge cutter was used rather than secateurs and shears. The debris was cleared to the compost heaps and a new layer of wood chippings, from the chipper pile, placed on the borders.

A Winter Border In The Provost's Garden

Ali and Anna return to the new border in the Provost's garden to remove a number of shrubs that are blocking the view to the lake and the bridge. Planting has already begun in the new, winter themed border, Cornus alba 'Sibirica Variegata', Hellebore and Primula.

Joined by Crystal, and with help from Simon, three Viburnum opulus and a rather large Laurel, that had to be reduced in size before its removal, are dug up and transferred to another area in the gardens and replanted.

Ali and the replanted Laurel

Cyclamen Coum

                                 



With the hard work of digging up and replanting of shrubs completed, the afternoon was spent adding soil and leaf mould to the large holes created in the morning and the less strenuous task of planting Cyclamen coum.





Four days after the team gathered in the Provost's garden and started to remove the old stone edging in front of a tired, old border, the picture below shows a new, fresh, winter border with views of the lake and the bridge.

 



A Busy Morning And An Afternoon Visit

This morning two jobs were completed that were started over the last few days. Anna and Kieron finish the new stone edge in the Provost's garden, whilst Ali levels the border behind it, making it ready for planting.

Ady and Graham level the border that was single dug yesterday making it ready for planting too.

In the afternoon the team enjoy a visit to Lady Margaret Hall. Thank you to Ben, the Head Gardener, who gave up his time to show us around the lovely gardens.

R-L, Graham, Ady, Simon, Ben, Kieron, Callum, Anna, (Ali taking the photo)

Border Clearance And Preparation

Ady and Callum start the day working on a border at the front of the Linbury Building removing the old shrubs that have out grown the small area.

Once removed the area is raked through to clear away all the leaf debris ready for it to be forked through.

With Callum at college in the afternoon, Ady is joined by Ali, Kieron, Graham and Anna to continue the work on the border. Forking it through they carefully remove all the old roots left in the soil from the removed shrubs.

To improve the soil and prepare it for planting they single dig the area. Starting at the back of the border Ady and Kieron dig a trench to a spades depth, known as a 'spit'.

Graham fills the wheelbarrows with leaf mould for Anna and Ali to transport from the truck to the trenches.

The first trench is filled with leaf mould then, working from the back to the front, another trench is dug, placing the soil from the newer trench on to the previous trench, continuing the process until the whole area has been dug. The levelling will take place tomorrow.

Border Alterations

With yesterday's freezing easterly wind now only a whisper, the team return to the Provost's garden to work on a corner that is in need of their attention.

The old stone edging, which can no longer be seen, is lifted and placed to one side for resetting later. The tired, old geraniums and ivy, that cover the area, are removed and taken to the skip.

To help in the removal of old shrubs, tree stumps and to loosen up the soil, the New Holland tractor with the grab attachment, a real favourite with the team, is used.

Once the soil has been forked through and the remaining roots and weeds removed, leaf mould is added, forked in and then levelled.

The small strip in front of the border, where the old stone edge used to be, is then compacted using the wacker plate in preparation for the the laying of the new stone edge.

 



A guide line is then put in place, cement mixed for the haunching and the first few stones set in place.