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Gardener's Diary - July
Its normally quiet at this time of year, the students have
all gone home and a lot of staff are taking the opportunity
to fit in summer holidays. However we have been invaded by builders
so everything is still a bit chaotic and dusty. They are in
four different sites at the moment, including our potting shed
as those of you involved with the Open Days have probably noticed.
The Garden is quieter though, no more students sitting round
revising or, more recently, letting off steam after exams.
We’ve had a decent bit of weather for the last couple
of weeks too, though I am relieved it is supposed to rain this
coming week otherwise I shall have to set up irrigation everywhere.
Most of the annuals in the summer beds and the formal garden
are standing up fairly well (although slugs or snails are still
attacking the Marigolds in the formal garden). On the downside
we have started trimming all the yew hedges which is a fair
weather job as we use an electric generator to run the hedge-trimmer
and therefore have to stop in inclement weather.
Still, we have plenty of other jobs to do even if it is a bit
showery – like cutting back a lot of the excessive growth
along paths and under trees especially where we need access
for the ride-on mowers. The warm and damp weather this late
Spring and early-summer has combined to make massive amounts
of vegetative growth, not only in the beds but all over the
garden.
And of course there is always weeding to
do. We have more or less finished the Autumn Bank, and the Friends
are tidying the Rose Garden, Iris bed and continuing with the
Mixed border and the Heather beds. I have recently made a start
on the Walled Garden as the Grounds Department have finally
blocked up the hole where the gate was – they rebuilt
the wall they knocked over last year but have only just finished
the remaining gap. As well as weeding I am also pruning the
walled fruit. The Gladioli just inside the gate have just started
flowering and with the Dahlias and Sweet Peas behind them it
is looking very colourful down there. Hopefully they will still
be performing for the next Open Day on 10th August, in aid of
the Red Cross, but please don’t feel you have to wait
until then to come and have a look – I try to make sure
the walled garden is open daily during working hours but if
it isn’t it’s because I’m too busy, so, in
advance : “Sorry”.
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