I am absolutely creased from half a day of putting my garden to bed before we decamp for six months for the winter elsewhere. I've emptied pots and hay rack and hanging baskets and added bonemeal to the lawns and borders. I've scattered slug pellets to, hopefully, knock down the overwintering population - probably too soon to do any good - end of October would be better. I've only planted two boxes of bulbs this year as I don't ever get back in time to see them! I did plant a few (white) Thalia narcissi in hopes of seeing them - and smelling them as they have a lovely perfume. Even the general tidying up of pots and plant stands and trolleys takes loads of lifting and carrying. Finally Ken and I put the furniture away and now everywhere looks like someone else's garden.
I've potted on a peony my sister gave me when we visited a couple of weeks ago so I hope the weather stays mild for a bit to let that settle in. Fortunately (!) when I'd done all that (and more) I'd managed to (over) fill the brown bin so I wasn't able to chop down all the roses as I'd planned to do. One job I've escaped from. That major task will have to be done as soon as I get back in April.
I could do with a piece of advice... one of the heaving and carting tasks is pulling down the bean plants. I cut them off at the base as you are supposed to leave the roots in the ground over winter, but it is a heck of a job disentangling seven eight foot poles all lashed together and twined around with jack and the Beanstalk beans. Does anyone leave them in for the winter and are they then easier to sort out when they've all died back? Please let me know here or email me. Thanks.
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