I would like to think the drying green was amply interlaced with drainage channels thanks to a mole. We don’t know how many there are but one or several, they have been enterprising to get in here. The drying greens are more or less all the open ground there is in the area as many houses now opt for hard landscaping. This is thought to be the reason why there is so much flooding. Gardens are covered up with concrete, not allowing natural drainage. Farmers are also in the frame for contributing to excess flooding. Old farming methods laid land drains just a few inches underground but with the desire for bigger and flashier tractors and machinery, the land drains couldn’t take the weight so crumbled leaving fields to flood and water run-off from them cause flooding on the roads.
My garden, such as it is, also suffers from flooding to some degree although I do try to compromise and make sure water will still be able to seep through the landscape fabric, chips and loose laid slabs. I take my chances with the weeds pushing up through the fabric in preference to having a plastic sheeting base which does not allow drainage.
My first attempt in the garden this year, was to clear out the dead stalks and leaves from crocosmia (Lucifer), and ferns (possibly Dryopteris filix-mas) which have decided to take over the garden. I have left all the dead leaves in a pile to provide extra shelter for some of the wildlife while freezing temperatures are expected. I started cutting back the ice plant (sedum) and noticed new shoots coming from the base. The magnolia tree already has lovely pale, velvety leaf buds.
What produce there still is in the garden is fresh and green looking with teeth marks as it would appear our friendly gastropods have found breakfast.
The weather forecast has warned us that temperatures are set to plummet and to expect snow. I think my clearance has been a good start to the new gardening year, small but it’s a start. The pond had been pulled apart last year because the liner leaked, we renewed it but in bad weather and whilst the plants were doing their impression of an Amazon jungle. Now it’s all cleared, I can take time to dig out what shouldn’t be there, secure the pond edging and re-organise some of the plants. All that before I deal with the greenhouse and containers.
My tomatoes and other indoor sown plants will start life off in comfort in a windowsill propagator in the bay window. They stay indoors once repotted until they are ready to cope with life in the greenhouse.
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