Another 2 Chris Saturday

Overcast and freezing weather was no handicap for the workers in PTC's garden this weekend.  One Chris busied himself emptying the 2011 compost bay in its entirety!  He mulched borders all round the garden with the contents which he estimated at about 2 1/2 tons.  As if that was brilliant enough, he then began moving the most recent compost from its bay to the adjacent bay.  This means that all the new compost is in the bottom and the oldest stuff is on top and 1 bay is now completely empty.  Chris also repaired the centre dividing panel which had bowed and was leaning over under the weight.  This meant driving in four 8' stakes to brace the dividing panel which should prevent.

2012 compost being turned & moved from left to right for next year

There were amazing compost finds!  A teaspoon and 5 Avocado stones all of which had germinated and were happily growing in a layer of wood ash in the dark warmth.  Unfortunately, they weren't initially spotted and so did suffer some damage.  All have been potted up just in case one survives!  

While composting manoevres were in progress, Chris G and I were making trellis panels from roofing laths.  I think we hammered in 428 nails for each panel.  Curving the tops was the tricky part as thin strips had to be glued together and clamped in place round a form.  We needed 8 hands each to do this!  Unclamping and reclamping long and very springy individual sections sections of lath was not the easiest job in the world!

Newly emptied bay & repaired divider

Other jobs included potting up Al's Costco bargains!  After potting up 48 lily bulbs, I ran out of pots and had 18 left over.  Also potted up were 5 Big Daddy Hostas, 6 Heucheras Palace Purple, 6 Astilbes, 5 Aquilegias and 15 Dahlias.  Then it was time to return to the relative warmth of the greenhouse to clear out the stragglers and pot on the worthies. All moth eaten/scruffy/elderly/woody/tired and plain dead plants were consigned to the now very smart looking compost heap thus giving a more space where it's now really needed.  It's all too easy to try and preserve too many plants through the winter and then when spring eventually arrives, there's just no room for spring sowings!