October 2022

Goodness, what a busy gardening month for me! The month started by pruning the blackberry and wineberry bushes and tying in new growth. I have had a fantastic crop of blackberries this year and there are many in the freezer along with apple and blackberry crumble.

I attended a talk locally by Charles Dowding, of 'No Dig' fame; this was very interesting as although I had heard of his system I had not read up on it and had it muddled in my head with permaculture, which is a different system altogether. Anyway, I left the talk all fired up and spent the following weekend covering the path in my vegetable garden (as was) with a thick layer of newspaper topped with a thick layer of bark chips. One of the vegetable patches was cleared of flowers and shrub cuttings -  these were all transplanted - and then topped with a thick layer of garden compost. All that was left was a rhubarb plant, which may not have survived the drought, and some English Marigolds which were still flowering profusely. They will be removed in due course. I also sowed some Broad Bean 'Aquadulce' into the bed, some of which are already germinating. 

 

The wildflower bed next to the vegetable patch was a mess, so I have weeded it, transplanted the Verbena bonariensis plants, cut back the Eupatorium, and tidied a few plants. I think I am going to build a wood pile there to further encourage beetles, frogs and toads, and perhaps hedgehogs, in the desperate hope that they will eat more of the flipping slugs! The Gingko biloba is also there and is turning a beautiful buttery yellow as it always does in autumn.

Around the rest of the garden I have been busy weeding and planting/ transplanting. I really haven't done much gardening until recently so the borders are all rather overgrown. I have planted a Cercis siliquastrum ("Judas Tree"), and a Sambucus nigra ("Elderflower") from pots, and have transplanted Verbena bonariensis, Phygelius capensis ("Cape Figwort"), Helleborus ("Hellebore"), Digitalis purpurea ("Foxglove"), and Prunella vulgaris ("Selfheal") to the side border, and a hebe to the border near the top patio. 

In the lean-to I have sown seeds of Papaver orientalis ("Oriental Poppy") and have hundreds germinating, Hollyhocks, Primula veris ("Cowslip") and Fritillaria. I also potted up a Cistus and a Clematis that I bought for 50p each at a local supermarket.

The month is ending with high winds and torrential rain (Storm Claudio), and the possible loss of the roof of my lean-to. The neighbour's fence is down.

Flowers this month included: 

Berberis darwinii, dandelions, evening primrose, Fuchsia, Fuchsia ' Bella Soila', Fuchsia magellanica alba, Geranium nodosum, groundsel, lavender, taodflax, English marigold, passion flower, penstemon, ragwort, rosemary, Sedum spectabile, strawberry, Teucrium, Verbena bonariensis, buttercups, Californian Poppy, fennel, Rosa rugosa alba, Cyclamen, hawkbit, lemon balm, Salvia 'Amethyst Lips', Scarlet pimpernel, Sow thistle, wood sorrel.