Weeding, weeding, weeding and mulching.....and weeding. Last year, when I was desperately trying to eradicate an outbreak of twitch in this very same garden bed I stumbled upon Organic Sugar Cane Mulch....it is fabulous as it turns into a sort of garden carpet which smothers weeds.....well, for a while at least. My husband snickers and says that it may be labelled 'organic' yet once a chain smoking truckie has driven it all the way down to Hobart from Queensland, he is sure that it's not good for the environment.
It's good for my gardening state of mind though. Look how miraculously neat it's made my topiary border look:
Along with the hours last week that I spent trimming it all with a pair of scissors. I have a bit of a thing for English Box topiary and grew all of my own from cuttings. It only took about six years for my hedges to join up:
And long periods of time were involved in creating these standards:
This poor rooster that looks like a reindeer is in a bit of trouble as it's roots somehow became waterlogged:
Gardening is all about patience. A virtue I'll admit I'm not very good at, and I know this for a fact because I have a garden and four children. I'm working on it, though.
Rx
This post is like a knife in my heart Romy - my 2 English box topiary, which I have had for 17 years, and grown from tiny plants to large cone shapes by my front door have almost turned their toes up and died. Large patches of dead branches throughout. I'm not sure why and am trying to work it out (eliminated water logging, pest, hydrophobic soil), but I was in a nursery this morning and for the same size they are $995. I practically cried. Your garden looks spectacular - the rose is beautiful, as are your borders and hedges. Patience is a virtue with gardens. I fertilise mine like crazy and look forward to around 4 years time when it will look a little more substantial than it currently does... xx
ReplyDeleteOh no, the horror! I've lost a couple randomly through the years which is why I'm hoping I can save the rooster (which is brown and crinkly all over). One of my balls on sticks I had in the shade of the porch did a similar thing to what you're describing and I trimmed the roots, repotted it and moved it out to where it got a bit more sun then I cut out the dead bits so it is a bit lopsided with a bald patch yet it seems to be showing new growth. Anything is worth a try....I hope that you can save yours! Rx
DeleteYour boxes are beautiful Romy! We took all our pots of box with us when we moved (as they were in pots) but now it means I need to water 30 pots every morning. Plus the 20 pots of hydrangeas. Now longing for a garden like yours. We may have to plant ours out. Loved the topiary too. What a Master Gardener you are! xx
ReplyDeleteluff it all, I swear by sugar cane mulch!
ReplyDeleteRomy, the garden is looking excellent. Well worth the effort. Love the climbing rose and and the topiary. Agree, sugarcane mulch is brilliant stuff. I had so many bales of it stacked in the garage in Brisbane the babysitter asked if we were getting a pony! Made your pork again the other night, a big hit with everyone, even the young players which absolutely makes my day. Jx
ReplyDeleteAh Romy, yet more inspiration for this Gardening Greenhorn! Am dying to take notes from you ☺. J x
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