Sickness and Snow....

This again has been a rather trying month. The snowy weather (see pic) really hasn’t helped and we are getting behind with the preparatory work for opening. Our main truck decided to have gearbox trouble and is still away being mended, Gardener Steve was off for 2 weeks with a bad attack of swine flu, Gardener Richard went down with a stomach bug and Assistant Head Gardener Debbie had a very painful knee that was interfering with the jobs she was able to do. Thankfully all 3 seem fully recovered now. ( We are still waiting for news on the Bonser truck).

However we can also be thankful that all the main leaf raking has been completed, only borders left to do now. And we will soon be returning all last year's lovely rotted leafmould back onto the newly weeded beds.

Richard has been busy cutting circles in the grass round newly planted trees, and backfilling with woodchip.Every time he thinks he has finished, Mr Berkeley says that as he is working to such a good standard there is this area or that area to complete as well. It will take until March for him to finish! This task not only mulches and protects the young tree, but removes the competition for nutrients from surrounding grass and weeds.

The conservatory boiler is now complete with its new flue and concrete pad. It looks very smart, and has been put to good use over the last few days. The little niggles have been sorted out and It works a treat, staying warm for over 18 hours, (which is better that when I first tried to work it and had to fill it up at 10pm, in the dark, to ensure that it was still warm in the morning.)

Last week saw the last family shoot of the season, and on Saturday ‘Keepers Shoot’ took place. This is when the gamekeeper can invite his own guests for a final shoot. As usual I helped the gamekeeper’s wife to prepare and host the lunch; chilli, baked potatoes and apple pie to follow. Catering for so many can be a challenging experience, but we have done it now for several years and it is always appreciated.

In the gardens we havve completed lots of formative pruning, and opened up new vistas. The spring flowers are just beginning to show, the early snowdrops are peeping through on the banks and in the borders. It’s the promise of things to come. I love snowdrops.

February Tasks

Prepare vegetable seed beds, and sow some vegetables under cover
Start chitting potatoes
Prune winter-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering
Prune Wisteria
Prune hardy evergreen hedges and renovate overgrown deciduous hedges
Prune conservatory climbers
Cut grass on a high cut when the day is dry and slightly windy.
Check and repair pergolas and arches if needed.
Rub down and treat wooden garden furniture when dry.
Remove algae from paths if they start to become slippery.
divide and replant early spring bulbs that have finished flowering
Check fruit and veg stores for rot or rodent damage. Don’t forget the stored cannas and dahlias.
Trim the old leaves from hellebores and epimedium to reveal the new flowers
Sow sweet peas on a cool windowsill or coldframe
Regularly check greenhouse heaters and fleece.

Boiler Mayhem

Firstly, may I wish you all a Happy New Year.

The first day of December arrived with a sudden and definite change in the weather. There was a very sharp and pronounced cold snap which made everything look crisp and snowy. The misty mornings were really picturesque. (see pic).
The cold snap was preceded by desperation as we were still waiting for the new conservatory boiler to be installed. A lot of phone calls, texts and rushing about ensured that just before Christmas we had the brand new, purpose built heating boiler up and running. Last winter the old boiler had become so badly corroded that every time it was fired up, the circulating water would flow through the holes and put out the fire! Thus, in all its 45 year old corroded glory it was removed by the blacksmith in Pershore to be copied.

A temporary flue was installed to see us through the coldest weather during the holidays. The blacksmith promised to return after the holidays and install the proper chimney, and repair a couple of very minor leaks in the new joints, fired up the boiler and it seemed to work really well. All the conservatory pipes warmed up beautifully and for a while (less than 12 hours) the system worked perfectly. Perfectly that is, until the original pipe going through the wall between the boiler house and the conservatory was found to be seriously leaking, (at a speed of about 3 bucketfulls of water an hour) about 3 feet from the new boiler. Back to the temporary system of a large gas canister and heater. I am feeling so frustrated. So near and yet so far.

At home we found some small logs, destined for the woodburner, that were hollow. We saved a few and filled them full of melted lard mixed with seeds and nuts. When we hung them on the trellis in our garden we had an amazing range of birds coming down to feed. Which reminds me, I must refill them as they get emptied in a couple of days. We also removed a dead tree that had a hollow trunk so we cut it into sections and will put them round the leaf heaps as hedgehog hideaways.

Apart from the excitement and frustration about the boiler it has been a very ordinary month. Raking leaves has continued throughout the month, and looks to continue well into February. I find December to February very miserable months although, looking out of my window today, the sun is shining brightly making the garden look very inviting.... The early signs of spring are just beginning to show and I am really looking forward to the snowdrops.

January Tasks

Regularly check greenhouse heaters are working, and insulate the greenhouse where possible.
Keep an eye out for wind damage on tall plants, check tree ties and stakes.
Drain down or insulate waterpipes. Even full watering cans left out can become damaged through ice expansion
Ensure tools are clean, oiled, serviced and ready for next season.
Make the most of ‘indoor days’ to plan for next season, with seed catalogues and a layout of the garden.
Don’t forget the veg patch in your planning: try to include veg that you haven’t tried to grow before.
Dig over the veg patch on sunny dry days, and add manure if not growing root crops.
Prune back grape vines before the end of the month
And don’t forget to feed the birds, ensuring they also have access to unfrozen water.