Category Archives: soil management

While I’m on hold

Posted on March 24, 2021 by Helen

Yesterday, I went for the first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The side effects came on more or less as soon as I got home, which put paid to the rest of my day of annual leave being for anything … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, soil management, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 39 Comments

Back to the stables

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Helen

Further proof that the horse manure is doing some good in the garden came the other day when I noticed what the blackbirds had been up to in the main garlic bed. I don’t know if the birds were successful … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, soil management | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Oh no! Those pesky pigeons again

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Helen

I hadn’t been wandering around the garden as much since the snows of January and February, so I wasn’t paying attention to the space at the back. Then at my local farm last week, there was a notice that the … Continue reading →

Posted in edible flowers, soil management, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Another hole

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Helen

Well, there was no snow today (phew!), so I was able to get out into the garden and do another job on my list. In previous years, I have tended to leave the Jerusalem artichokes until they have been almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, soil management, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Filling in a hole

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Helen

When I built the pond, I used the soil that had been excavated to build up soil in the raised bed and round the apple trees. However, I don’t remember this dip in the garden: No matter, I have a … Continue reading →

Posted in forest garden, Gardening, soil management | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Nature’s patterns in frost form

Posted on January 24, 2021 by Helen

After recent online shenanigans I finally felt as though I’d got my gardening mojo back today. At least insofar as I was able to appreciate the beauty of nature in its winter form. I had to decline the offer of … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, soil management | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Dandelions vs couch grass

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Helen

I thought I’d taken a photo of the pesky couch grass that’s been inhabiting the corner by the patio/pond but it seems not to be in the album. Anyway, I’m sure you know what it looks like as well as … Continue reading →

Posted in edible weeds, soil management | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Improving the raised bed

Posted on January 3, 2021 by Helen

Two years ago, when I made the raised bed, there wasn’t enough soil left from what was excavated to make the pond to fill it to the top. I’d not been making much compost at this time and was trying … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, raised bed, soil management | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Poseidon‘s Trident

Posted on January 2, 2021 by Helen

Yesterday afternoon, I watched a series of videos on YouTube about the soil web. Immediately, I felt inspired to get out in the garden and do some work but of course it was dark. In any case, a purchase I … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, soil management | Tagged , | 2 Comments

‘A lot more’s been happening in 2020 than ….’*

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Helen

I haven’t blogged as much this year, neither writing nor reading. I can hardly say it’s because of my busy social life, though in some ways it is. For example, the world has opened up in as far I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Days out, Gardening, Health, soil management, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments