Third & Fourth Weeks in April

The week started with lunch at a local garden centre, and the inevitable purchase of plants. I decided to replace the sickly herbs so bought a common Rosemary, common Thyme and a purple Sage. All now planted out. I  bought seeds of Winter Savory and lettuce leaf Basil too. And a bag of vermiculite. Oops.

Lots of seeds have been sown; two varieties of tomato, English marigolds, Monarda, and possibly some others. Several are germinating including Stocks, marigolds and Cerinthe. Exciting! We have more to sow but have run out of space. 

Outside I have planted a sweet pea plant that survived the winter; it will be supported by a laundry airer that isn't needed for now. Larger plants are hardening off ready for planting when the beds are clear, and the battle with bindweed has begun. I have a special bucket for their roots....

I decided that the outdoor potting bench wasn't fit for purpose, so took the top off and moved the compost bin into half of the space, and started building a wildlife heap next to it.

This week's project is to finish the edging for the second veg bed. I have cut the wood to size now with my new shiny saw, and just have to nail it all together. This could go horribly wrong! Update - the nails were too short but have found some really long screws. Still not finished though.

Other jobs done include giving the lawn a liquid feed, erecting a bamboo tripod for a perennial sweet pea to climb up, sowing more seeds, cutting the grass and the hedge (bought a new toy!), pulling up lots of bindweed and  ash seedlings, moving some stone pots, and planting out some of the perennials in the bed beyond the Hydrangea. This latter planting was of foxgloves, hollyhocks, Verbena, bugle, and mallow as they all needed to get established. They will probably be moved in due course.