The temperature hovered in the 40s here this weekend but the sun was shining and it was a glorious two days in the garden.It was one of those weekends when there were a billion different things I could have done outside. Which means I was able to happily jump around from project to project, just enjoying being outside.
I emptied all the containers of their holiday greens, for starters. I know, you’re thinking that’s a bit like still having your Christmas tree up, but I really loved having something to look at over the past several months. The silver dollar eucalyptus faded to a beautiful tan and while the greens had dried out quite a bit, they still looked good. I saved the dogwood branches in case I decide to try to make some rustic obelisks, which is on the “I think I want to try” list.
I also took care of a bit more pruning. All of the roses were pruned, including a couple of Oso Easy roses that I pruned back quite hard in anticipation of moving them. I also cut back the rest of the ornamental grasses and pruned most of the clematis. I still have to do the Group 2 ‘Ken Donson’ in the middle of the circle garden which requires a bit more time and concentration and a couple of the Group 3s that are still under snow (yep, parts of the garden are still under ice and snow).
The ground in the raised vegetable beds is still frozen solid. I can’t even get the pots that I heeled in over winter out. So I covered them all in 4-mil plastic from the hardware store. The box said clear, but it’s sort of milky white. Anyway I just held it down with bricks and I’m created a little greenhouse affect to warm things up.
I spent a lot of time just poking around. Tulips are poking up in the southern-facing bed at the front of the house, most of the sedums have growth at their bases and it looks like the dozens of Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’ that I planted in the new garden bed last summer have hung there. Tiny little leaves are visible on the bases of many.
But mostly, I spent a great deal of time laying out the new back yard plantings. It required a rather elaborate arrangement of stakes, a tape measure and a lot of landscaping paint. It is so worth getting the kind of spray paint meant to be sprayed inverted for this. I altered the plan a few times once I got it all laid out and looked at it from the upstairs window so there is a lot of paint around, but I think I have it set.
There were so many other things I could have been doing. I should rake out that bed along the house sooner rather than later with everything popping up there. I need to lay down some cardboard over some of the weedy areas on the periphery of some of the newer gardens. There are a few more perennials to be cut back. At this time of year the garden chores are happily never ending.
Of course in a few months I’ll use this space to whine about having too much to do in the garden. I’ll tell you that I yearn to just sit back with a drink in my hand and enjoy my hard work. But now, after such a long winter, it is the hard work that I yearn for. It is so good to be in the garden again.
Did you get into the garden this weekend?
Indeed, it is good to be back in the garden. Have fun laying out the new back yard garden. Here's to a glorious garden season ahead!! Cheers, Loi
Thanks, Loi. Always nice to hear from you.
The new lines are looking great Erin. How exciting to be planning new designs, you can really let your creative spirit free:)
Paul
Thanks, Mr. Paul!
YES!! It was beautiful on Sunday and we spent the afternoon outside, my husband burning some stuff in the finally-snow-free firepit, and me clearing out some brambles from an area we want to turn into lawn this year. The kids were so happy to be outside and were digging in the mud too. : ) Looks like your garden plans are really taking shape now! You mentioned that you are pruning some of your roses hard in anticipation of moving them…I'm planning to move a few small rose bushes this year so would it be wise to prune those back too? This is my first time having rose bushes, they were on the property when we moved and are at least a few years old. Yay spring!!!!
I'm no rose expert. Far from it … I've killed a lot of them! But in general I think it's a good idea to cut stuff back pretty hard anytime you're moving it so the plant puts its effort into growing roots, not leaves and flowers. I did a quick Google search and this seems to be the general consensus for moving a rose too.
It was so great to be outdoors! Mostly raking, picking up sticks and pods. Don't think anyone else would even notice what we did! Always opt for more garden over lawn. I like the more curved direction.
You have a point … might as well go for more garden now rather than have to adjust it down the line.
Still not able to do too much heavy work, I cut back the clematis and some perennials. I also took out the Christmas greenery (still a couple pieces frozen in there though).
It's so nice to finally get out there and do something! It's raining here today, so things will start to green up nicely and we'll see more things happening out there.
Can't wait to see your new garden!!
I can't wait to see it, too, Heather. Seems like a LONG ways away though. The worst part is that I'm definitely going to have to have some topsoil and compost brought in. I hate moving dirt and even more than that, I hate paying to buy and truck dirt.
Spring has finally arrived here and it fabulous to be able to putter in the garden. Smart idea to warm up the beds with plastic. I'd go for more garden over grass, too. :o)