New species - bagged but ready to go

On the last Sunday Workday we were trying to sort out one of the garden's 'toilet' corners - these spots are a nuisance but we have to address these as best we can.  The corner in question is next to the green leaf-bins, under the horse chestnut tree and it is dark and very dry.  Last autumn a number of holly saplings were planted but the combination of hard growing conditions and the physical damage caused by squatting shitters had done for these.  When a big Spotted Laurel, Aucuba japonica, was anonymously donated earlier in the year, roots wrapped in a black plastic bag, I was unsure where to plant it so it has sat, rather neglected, outside the office.  These are tough shrubs, not to everyones taste, but are notorious for their ability to cope with difficult dry, shaded, conditions. Ideal for this corner.

The usual big planting hole with lots of added compost was dug and the laurel firmly planted.  The loose compost was shaken out of the bag - revealing this bright eyed little fellow...

I am a big toad fan.  You will probably think this is because of their slug-eating, pest-controlling ways. Wrong!  It is because of; the perfect balance of comedy and dignity in their expression, that they swallow their food using their eyeballs to push the food down (how cool is that!), and they defend themselves from being picked up by emptying their bladder all over your hands (how silly is that?!)  They are wonderful!

We do not have toads at the Phoenix, their wandering ways would mean they would soon get pancaked in the road.  Frogs are much more sedentary so can survive here.  This little fellow after being photographed, videoed and fed a worm (very hungry after the summer in a bag) went off to be re-homed in the suburbs.

Back to the laurel.  1 day later it is broken in half with a large turd amongst the broken branches.  Blighters!

time to plant

and it should take time.

Gardening atop rubble at the Phoenix means new plants can struggle to establish in the summer-dry conditions so we try and tip the balance in the plant's favour with proper planting at the right time and in the right way.  Now the soil is moist with autumn rain it is the perfect time to plant as the roots can get well established long before the soil dries out again next summer.  Few plants will make it here if just plonked in and summer-dry gardens are unforgiving of corners cut at this point. To give the best chance of survival I am particular in how we prepare the planting holes and time taken doing this now is time well spent. 

Here Peter is clearing a space between a clump of Geranium x oxonianum and the comfrey, Symphytum caucasicum, to dig a hole for a Daisy Bush, Euryops chrysanthemoides.  These are both greedy bullies and it would be no good tucking anything in tightly between these thugs so an area 3ft across cleared of their roots is needed (established, the Daisy Bush will stand above them both and be able to hold it's own).  

Even without such nasty bedmates to contend with a planting hole needs to be at least twice the size of the new rootball to give room for the new roots to grow.  This is especially important on compacted soils.  It can take some doing.  

Here, having cleared a good space of ivy root, Pauline gets to loosening compacted rubble with a steel bar, to plant...

this too-long-in-the-pot and rather leggy, Buddleja officinalis - early flowering, drought tolerant and borderline hardy (more on this no doubt if it gets through the winter).  

From a hole twice the size of the pot came this collection - to add to the ever-growing pile of rubble by the office.  

[Remember, most plants don't mind growing in stony soils and the roots simply grow around any rocks or stones, which makes sense, 'the wild' not being stone free.  We simply remove those that physically prevent the planting hole being dug - if we took out more the garden would sink dramatically!]

The soil is dug out into a barrow or bucket - much easier than dumping a heap on the ground amongst other plants.  It is always surprising how much soil comes out of even a small hole - Pauline's plastic barrow is bulging! 

The excavated soil is always mixed with a couple of shovel-loads of compost, compost holds moisture in the soil, provides nutrients and brings the soil to life around the new plant and it good as guarantees success.    The plant goes in the hole at the same level it was growing in the pot - deeper and the now-buried stems can rot.  The compost-improved soil is filled in round the rootball bit by bit, firming well as we go.  

I always go on and on about firming the soil AROUND the rootball and not the rootball itself - all too often a vigorous firming on top of the rootball produces a tearing sound as the roots are ripped off the plant.  This obviously defeats the object.   We aren't looking to push the plant down into the centre of the earth, it should be at the right depth already (if it isn't take it out and dig a bit deeper!), just firming the in-fill with steady pressure using your knuckles will be enough to remove big spaces and to hold it firm while it roots (taller things, that the wind will rock, will need staking).  

I get asked how hard to firm.  I say "firmly".  This means it shouldn't hurt you or the plant.  I dislocated my thumb a couple of years ago firming - now that was definitely too hard!  

Then we water.  Properly. A whole can for each plant, sometimes two.  This takes time to soak in below the rootball so we don't rush.  Deep watering encourages the new roots to grow deeply as they follow the moisture down.  They will need to root deeply as they will only get another can or two next year as they establish but otherwise will receive no additional watering.  Ever.

  

After watering the plants get a good layer of mulch.  This prevents moisture being sucked out of the soil by the wind and competing 'weed' seeds from sprouting like cress.

Finally we pose (to order) for the camera and repeat the magic words - "Grow you bugger!".  

[Peter is a Phoenix Garden stalwart and has moved tons of rubble up and down the garden uncomplainingly during the renovations of the last few years with little chance to green his rubble-worn fingers.  Looks like he relished the opportunity to repeat the magic words!)  

sanding sir digby

The benches in the garden have been looking increasingly grubby so over the next few sessions the Sunday Workers will be giving them some much needed attention.  Some of the benches were varnished long ago and this has not stood up well to the thousands of backsides gracing them over the intervening years while others have lost their sparkle under layers of particularly persistent city grime.  Earlier in the year one bench received a soapy water and scrubbing brush quick fix but it was clear this wouldn't be quite enough of a treatment to bring them back to their best.

Here is the Sir Digby bench, released from it's chains for treatment.

Here are Peter and Pauline chatting as they sand off the dirt.

"Get back to work!"

(Look at that sun! I am hiding in the shade looking busy)

Here is Delia getting to grips with the grime on Louis Green.

I have to admit it is rather a grim task, all dust and dirt and blisters, but the persistence of the group does pay off - they are tenacious!  A few coats of linseed oil to feed and protect the wood (this doesn't flake like a varnish) and Sir Digby is clean and bright and once again ready for bums.

The clouds of dust floating about reveal the hidden webs of spiders and it is apparent just how many  are busy spinning in the garden. 

I read it is meant to be good year for spiders so I'm sure to be enjoying them as they hang mid-web in early autumn.  More on them then but in the meantime do be glad you're not a fly.

sunday workday - iron post erection

Sunday Workday - Garrad, Alison, me.

The old iron gate posts have been sitting in the garden since the front railings were replaced five years ago.  They are ridiculously heavy but despite this they have travelled round the garden repeatedly, usually accompanied by ridiculously-heavy lifting hilarity.  At last their final positions have been decided, the larger of the two was installed in the autumn for a pair of clematis at the south end, the other has now found its home adjacent to the path in front of the bramble patch.

Teas all round and after Alison and Garrad got cracking on the excavation. Plants up and to the compost, topsoil off and to the new beds, then the wrecking bar to get the bricks out (1 1/2 bucket) all accompanied by the most dreadful sulphurous smell emanating from below ground.

After investigating and lots of discussion decided it may be from the rotting eucalyptus roots that were left after this tree was felled, we'd experienced similar when digging around the stump of a Pseudoacacia that was cut down a few years ago.  Whether this is normal I don't know but plants have grown well in both these areas since the trees were removed. 

The hole was dug two foot deep by a bit less wide and some metal rods were hammered in at an angle into the base of the hole.  The three of us just managed to carry the post from the back of the garden 

- not without a few giggle breaks. 

 

 Alison learnt how to mix cement - you go girl!

Lifting the post into place was slightly hairy, it would probably have been better done with a couple more people, but it dropped into the hole nicely without any problem. We secured it by tying sections of an old climbing frame to it, braced with metal stakes hammered into the ground.  Cement and hardcore filled in around the base and was packed in firmly.  A bit of fiddling to get it level and we were done. 

More tea. 

Tools away.

Good days work.

Garden closed forty eight hours for HnS - I'll see what its like when the concrete's hard.  I do hope it holds - it is very heavy.