As regular followers will know, I have for some time been scaling down my garden (i.e, borders and shrubberies) in order to cut down on some of the work as we get older.
This Spring I have been doing more of that and have also cut back,very hard, the shrubs that are staying.
I think it is now more manageable and I certainly will be keeping all the roses, both back and front.
I have acquired some new tools which are proving very helpful
Wilkinson Sword stainless steel
This border spade has a kind of platform at the top which really helps when pushing the spade into the ground with one's foot
This Swoe style hoe is a brilliant piece of equipment. I have never had one like this before. It has a push and pull action, severing weeds from their roots.
The handle is also long enough to get right into the centre of beds, especially ones where I am unable to get right into myself.
I can see this getting a lot of use. Up until now I have done all my weeding kneeling on the ground with a hand trowel and even crawling under shrubs at times.
http://www.wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk/stainless-steel-garden-tools/stainless-steel-garden-tools-all
Another area where we have been digging out and replacing but poor Alan has had to use the old spade while I have been using the new one!
Well there isn't much colour right now but with 29 roses in bud I am expecting that to change quite soon.
Does not feel like Spring today though - just 5 minutes ago I took this picture of the hailstones in the garden.
24 comments:
Good tools make work easier. Your rose garden will soon be awash with colour.
The Swoe style hoe looks so convenient.
29 roses! They will be wonderful. Mine are the best they have been since planting three years ago, though I am fighting Black spot already. I think it is so common in Cornwall.
Your garden is so lovely! The right tools for the job make such a difference. I think I need to find me a hoe like that!
Have a great week.
Such beautiful grounds.
I so enjoy your garden, especially your roses, we have a hoe much like yours and love it. It's so fun to read all your adventures and see your pictures too. Thank you for all you share with us.
I look forward to seeing photos of the roses! How big is your garden? I have sent some photos I your garden to my husband as it has the look that I'd like to achieve, but perhaps it is larger than ours. We are havin to start from scratch. Perhaps I should be looking for new tools!
Even scaled back, your yard is a beauty. I finally have faced the fact that while I love the idea of gardening, I am no gardener. So now I keep it simple. I also manage to not kill succulents. :-)
The garden looks lovely, Barbara. I hope you will share a picture of the roses in bloom soon. The weather has been anything but springlike with the hail covering the ground.
You have a most lovely garden. Our weather here in Riga, Latvia has been more fall like than spring like and I am worried about the tomato plants that we put into the greenhouse. It is just a simple structure with a heavy plastic covering and needs sunlight to warm it. That hoe looks like it certainly can make weeding easier. That is the one garden chore I hate the most.
Your garden looks lovely and I am doing the same thing: scaling down, except my roses......It is very important to have the right tools, it makes work so much easier. Yesterday I was running in and out, the weather was very changeable, a heavy rain shower I went in the greenhouse, then outside again but a shower with hailstones arrived very soon, inside again.....
Wish you happy gardening and sunny days!
You do have a huge garden to care for. I like the looks of that hoe you have. It would make work easier. With so much to care for I'd be looking for ways to eliminate some work too. Colder here too but we have had some lovely days.
Crazy weather, we had frost this morning, and little rain. That's why you are in such good shape, you get out and move.
yvonne
Crazy weather! Your Swoe hoe looks much like my new scuffle hoe...couldn't garden without it! Really. I was thinking of having people in to take what they wanted because I had such a rough year last year trying to keep up with it. Good and proper tools make all the difference!
I like your new tools! Your garden is lovely. We'd love to have rain minus the hail stones!
You have a beautiful garden, I like the way it is looking these days. it will be heavenly when the roses bloom. Even your new garden tools are pretty - so shiny!
Oh I love the new tools and the garden is always so pretty.
Stunning, but it looks like work to me!!!
Your garden is lovely! I can't wait to see pictures of your roses when they bloom. With so many roses in your garden, it must smell like heaven when they all bloom.
My David Austin Christopher Marlowe Rose and Knock Out roses were loaded with bigger than normal blooms this year. They had a few days in their full glory and then we had wind and heavy downpours. They kept their blooms, but they are fading faster than they normally would have.
I have been thinking about getting a hoe, now I know what kind to ask for.
Happy gardening!
Things are looking great . I got some new tools the other day too!
I love your garden and can't wait to see your roses in bloom. I remember when you bought some new ones a year or two ago. I can just imagine that your new hoe will get plenty of use and save your knees too.
Happy gardening.
Audrey.
Very interesting tools, Barbara! Anything that makes weeding easier is worth trying ;-) And I'm looking forward to your roses starting up. Hope they weren't thwarted by the HAIL!
Hi Barbara! I know it's been way too long since I've visited; I'm sorry I've been a bad blogging friend. I'm really trying to do better about that. I'm very impressed with your new tools; I think having the right tools always makes every job easier. That's true in the kitchen and the workshop, as well. I especially love the look of your Wilkinson border spade; I've been looking for something similar here to use in our yard.
Now for all the oohs and aahs -- Barbara your garden is gorgeous!! Ever since our trip to England years ago, I've sworn that all the English have gardening in their DNA. :) You have a way with gardening that I wish I had. I love the way all your beds and borders are so nicely defined; I'm definitely going to look for a good border spade/shovel. I do hope you'll share pictures with us when your roses come into bloom. We have a David Austin rose planted in front of our house, and I just love it. Thanks for sharing this info. with us and have a lovely weekend!
Hugs,
Denise
Just dropped in to say America has a Triple Crown Winner.
I have waited years for that race. It was Fantastic.
American Pharaoh made history.
Hope you have a beautiful Sunday.
yvonne
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