Leaf Pit Improvements

The task of moving the leaf heap was started on Friday and completed this morning. After it was emptied the pit, and the area in front of it, were given some improvements. The ground in front of the pit had got very muddy during the recent wet winter and, to help prevent this happening in the future has been covered in wood chip. Further improvements were also made to prevent the contents of the pit from spilling out on to the wood chip. A slatted front was constructed out of decking boards supported by posts left over from the recently built Post And Rail Hedge Protection.

Moving The Leaf Heap

The grass is beginning to grow and soon the grass cutting season will be in full swing. Space is at a premium in the compost areas so it is time to clear one out to make room for the grass.

Ady, Joss and Callum spent the day clearing the heap at the bottom of the orchard, using the grab attachment on the New Holland tractor to move the heap a bit at a time, filling the trailer and transporting it to another compost area at the bottom of the sportsfield.

Post And Rail Hedge Protection

Two weeks ago the team planted a new yew hedge between the orchard and the car park, see blog entry 20th February 'Planting A New Yew Hedge'.

To protect the new hedge over the next few years, whilst it matures and the young trees anchor themselves into the soil, Keiron and Simon constructed a temporary, low level post and rail fence. Not the first time this type of fence has been used in the garden, see blog entry 9th January 2013 'Post And Rail Fence'.

Lifting, Splitting And Transplanting Winter Aconites

Having spent the morning mulching the ornamantal grass borders of the Canal Building, Ali and Graham moved back into the main garden to lift, split and transplant some Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconites).

The carpet of bright yellow, buttercup-like flowers have faded so now is the best time to move them, 'in the green'. Being careful not to trample on the crocus and daffodils that are flowering amongst the faded blooms, they carefully lift clumps of winter aconites using a fork. Each clump is then gently pried apart to form smaller clumps and then transplanted to extend the area, as there was no rain forecast they had to be watered in, something that would have seemed inconceivable a few days ago following the wettest winter on record!

Mulching With Wood Chip

The ornamental grasses in the borders of the Canal Building were cut down yesterday, so today the borders were ready to receive their annual dressing of wood chip mulch.

The huge pile of wood chippings was been added to yesterday when the fruit tree prunings were chipped, so Graham and Ali removed the greener, top layer to reach the darker, older chippings. The wood chip is used as a decorative mulch to cover the weed suppressing membrane that the grasses grow through, see blog entry 22nd March 2012 '113 Grasses & A New Stone Edge'.

Chipping The Fruit Tree Prunings

The pruning of the fruit trees in the orchard started six weeks ago, see blog entry 22nd January 'Apple And Pear Tree Pruning Begins' and today the prunings that have built up over that period need to be put through the chipper.

Joss and Simon spent the morning feeding the hungry chipper with the tangled prunings until the task was complete.

Repotting Into Larger Pots

The cuttings that were taken from the summer display plants last September and potted up a month later, see blog entry 21st October 2013 'Potting Up September's Cuttings', have been repotted for the final time this week. They will now remain in the larger 10x10x11 pots until they are planted out as part of this year's summer display at the beginning of June. In April, to begin the process of hardening off, they will be moved out of the heated greenhouse into the unheated, south facing greenhouse then into the cold frames in May.