Still no sign of Spring

It's supposed to be getting close to Spring - but what on earth is the matter with this weather? After the earthquake came the almost-hurricane thing that threatened to bend my garden in two last week!

That said, I've been out doing my bit - there's no shortage of jobs that need doing!

I've put in my carrots this weekend and even found time to pick a nice bunch of daffs for the Long Suffering - I've also got some crocus growing in the lawn and I'll wait until they produce some seed before cutting that area of grass. I also pruned the roses on Saturday so they're looking all spick and span -cutting out the old branches as close to ground level as possible.

Some of my fruit trees looked a bit hungry too - so I gave them a dash of high potash feed. Then I did a bit more work on the lawn and repaired a couple of damaged areas by loosening the soil and sowing some seed. I then covered the patch with a bit of polythene tapped down with a couple of pegs.

So, I suppose that they're all spring-ish jobs - but I want that sun on my back please!

That's that sorted!

Those who know me know how much I enjoy my potatoes.

God's onw food I always say - and I have to say the Long Suffereing certainly knows how to prepare the best Jerseys I've ever tasted. So, in February and March I tend to sort out mt spuds for later in the year. I'm usually a bit later than most - but I find its always worked for me.

I normally get my chitting underway in late January (that simply means encouraging the seed potatoes to sprout before planting). The potatoes are then ready to be planted out when the shoots are 1.5-2.5cm (0.5-1in) long.

So, this weekend I've been out planting - the soil has started to warm up a bit by now I dug my trench about three inches deep, adding a dash of fertiliser before planting. I plant them about a foot apart with 18 inches between the rows. I always make sure the shoots are pointing upwards and careful not to break the shoots. After covering the potatoes lightly with soil I've now got to wait until the shoots appear before covering them with a ridge of soil so that the shoots are just buried.

Now all I have to do is sit and watch the little lovelies grow!

Poll crazy?

The Long suffering threw me the paper this morning.

She pointed out an article about that DIY and Gardening company 3M. Apparently they'd done some survey which found out that two thirds of women said that a man's attitude to home improvement and gardening reflected their approach to sex.

She then asked me why my rake and two hoes were so small.

Dunno what the woman was on about.

And I told her so an' all.

I like my trees!

As I write this article we are getting drowned on again!

I mean I know that we should be watering our gardens, and evergreen trees and shrubs until it freezes. But for goodness sake I'm wet through!!

Been looking at my trees today.

I've been pruning my elms and oaks and as my pines get older I think they are shedding more -a bit like yours truly to be honest!

With those strong winds last week, I had a load of damaged branches that needed to be cleaned up and removed. The problem is that breaks in the branches allows insect and disease to get into them. That's why the broken portions should be properly pruned to branch collars or other appropriate points.

Trees are important you know - and I don't think we take too much care of ours in this country. Certainly I seem to be surrounded by people who see a tree as an opportunity to take out their axes and chainsaws.

But look after your trees and they'll look after you!

I haven't gone away - I've just been cold!!

Bunny problems are back!

Yep = those damned rabbits are back again. They might look pretty and cuddly but the pesky things are demolishing any new shoot as quickly as they appear.

It's the time of year when rabbits will have a go at almost anything, even plants they are not supposed to like.

Of course the only real cure is to fence and gate off the whole area but that means destroying the look of my dear old garden. I do put some small fences up to protect my special areas – they needn't be ugly but look OK if disguised in boundary hedges.

But I have found one solution to make the problem a little easier to bear.

Rabbit and sweet potato pie.

To paraphrase that turkey farmer - they're bootiful!

A mulching I have been

I've been a mulching today!

I've mulched all my woody plants with around 3 inches of mulch - using the leaves and pine needles that fell in those strong winds last weekend.

Mulch, of course, helps to insulate the soil in case we get no snow and helps retain soil moisture.

I've also been bulb hunting and getting rid of the tender bulbs that I haven't already pulled. Most of them need to be dug once they’re hit by frost anyway.

I've also done a touch of planting - my garlic went in yesterday and I pulled out the frost-killed stuff and chucked that in the compost bin as well.

But it doesn't matter how busy I get in that garden - I can't wait for that sun on my back! Spring can't come fast enough for this kiddie!

Not my favourite time of year!

I don't mind admitting it!

The Long Suffering gets on her high horse and tells me I've tucked into too much turkey and pud - and she then sticks me on one of these diet things. The belssed woman doesn't understand though. A shed is not just for keeping my tools in - I've got a nice cool store of pork pies and hobnobs in there that help keep the cold away.

So I've had reason enough to go down the garden - but I look at my lawn and sometimes wonder will it ever be back to its beautiful best?

That's why I always put a bit of time into the lawn.

I mow it frequently - that used to be just in the summer but now, of course, it grows at a rate of knots, meaning the old mower is out of hibernation earlier than ever. And whilst it will benefit from regular cutting, helping the growth of shoots it also takes a fair bit of goodness out. So, I always follow a good cut with a good feed.

And that means me as well as the old grass!