The green and rolling countryside of Worcestershire, England, is home to the cider apple orchards which surround the gardens of Pear Tree Cottage. They enjoy a sunny south westerly aspect with sweeping views across to Martley Hillside, Woodbury and Abberley clock tower. The Teme Valley lies just over the hill and, not far away, is the Herefordshire border. Although our climate is temperate, our seasons are often uncertain and always a challenge to a gardener! This began in 2010 & follows the weekly ups and downs of garden work chronicling both successes and failures but, above all, demonstrates the fun enjoyed by three people who regularly garden in all weathers

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10 May 2014

Perfect Natural Greenhouse Shading

Natural greenhouse shading

Since inheriting this vine and building the greenhouse around it; I've been growing it on for over 10 years and I must say that it makes the perfect shading.  It didn't originally grow along the roof and had to be pruned right back when the previous greenhouse was replaced.

In summer when the sun is just too hot and likely to scorch plants inside, it provides a natural leafy dappled shade.  In winter when maximum light is required, it considerately drops all its leaves.  Now, just how much easier is that compared with buying and installing shades or using the dreaded white paint on the glass and then having to scrub it all off at the end of the summer?  I haven't found a single disadvantage - yet.  The white grapes are perfectly sweet and edible although are full of pips.  If I don't get around to picking them all, I find that the greenhouse is filled with wasps so I try to remember that job!  In the event of shading becoming a little too heavy, a little judicious pruning solves that issue immediately and this is so vigorous, it grows a mile a minute!

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