2022 - What I did today

P had the leccy and chainsaw out (hedgetrimmer too).  There's me at the bottom of the 20ft ladder, praying the silly old fool won't fall off when cutting 6" dia weeping willow branches.  He trimmed the 12ft conifer hedge to within an inch of its life too but at least if he falls during  that he lands in the hedge     Then it was shredding time, very satisfying. Today is P cleaning the shredder of all the pine resin.  As you can imagine I have far more important things to do than help.

Potted up side shoots from my dianthus and potted on a few more things. Collected seeds.

Planted 4 rooted perennial kale cuttings.
Pulled nettles, weeded paths, cut back perennial geraniums, watered GHs, watched butterflies dancing........

Put tiles under all the squash/pumpkins I could find. Squirted cucumber with soap to try and slow down the spidermites and get a couple more off it. Was goinmg to go through the cabbage patch looking for caterpillars but the heavens opened.
Was also going to cover the leeks with fleece as well to keep out allium whotsits. I had it penciled in for 1st September but not found time yet. Definitely job for tomorrow.

Deadheaded the dahlias.
Took cuttings of the pineapple sage and La Campanella fuchsia to overwinter.

Put tiles under all the squash/pumpkins I could find. Squirted cucumber with soap to try and slow down the spidermites and get a couple more off it. Was goinmg to go through the cabbage patch looking for caterpillars but the heavens opened.
Was also going to cover the leeks with fleece as well to keep out allium whotsits. I had it penciled in for 1st September but not found time yet. Definitely job for tomorrow.

I've had tons of spider mites this year

Spider mite problems here too - especially on the cucumbers in the GH (I assume its spider mite anyway.).

Hoes, weeded and earthed up the leeks then covered with fleece. Hopefully not too late.

Potted up some Thyme cuttings that were rooted from a bag of supermarket cut thyme (free of course).
Took cuttings of a variegated oregano.
Pulled up lots of montbretia alongside GH2 and cut back a grapevine that really shouldn't be growing there. Ate some grapes - they're tiny, pippy things.
Cut down the Kiwi thug - again. When will it take the hint?
Cut down the marjoram (or is it oregano) to encourage new growth for winter use.
Tidied the toms, cutting off old leaves, tying to supports, deciding which ones to grow next year and those that haven't earned their keep.

I may not have mentioned this but I'm clearing what used to be Bed 5 where Victoria and Stanley live. There used to be an old apple tree in the middle of it, which was cut down some years ago. The stump was covered in ash tree slices. Things have been happening under those slices - a holly and a hazel have grown there and, to my surprise, another apple tree (presumably off the old root).
Today I started to cut down the holly and hazel so that I could remove the ash slices. I've been waiting until the hazel nuts were ripe - so I picked those as I cut the branches off. Its going to be a big job to remove the holly and hazel roots but the old apple tree stump came out like a rotten tooth. Very satisfying.