A clean sweep for the broom

I have taken the plunge and cut this..


down to this....



Eeek! Radical!
Now I can walk behind them without crouching. There were three altogether, but I have removed one completely as it was already quite loose and wobbly as a result of some overenthusiastic weeding earlier this year.


Here is my bark chip path which should keep the weeds down. As you can see there is still a strip for planting flowers, and where I planted the daffodil and bluebell bulbs. Next year I will put borage, sunflowers, teasels, oxeye daisies and cornflowers in here too.


Here is some gorgeous compost, ready to use. This photo makes it look nearly empty, whereas it is in fact nearly half full. I put some around my leeks the other day - they are looking a bit puny, I fed them with liquid feed too so fingers crossed.

I have terrible whitefly on the purple sprouting brocolli. I don't like to wish for cold weather, but that's the best treatment for them really. On the John Harrison forum site somebody suggested spraying them with salty water, but didn't say what concentration to use - too salty would surely damage/kill the plant? Anyway, I dare say the weather will get cold again soon, so they should be all gone by the time the plants start producing the brocolli.


This area is going to have a little makeover too. I'm going to put a few slabs down, make a little 'utility'/ patio area, take a plastic chair up there, a bit of space for mixing feed etc, possibly another water butt. Surely there will come a time when I need to actually use some of this water, rather than just collecting it? I saw some slabs in a skip the other day - or - I could probably spare some more from the end of the garden.

The weather was unbelievable today - shame I couldn't have spent more time up there, but the forecast seems to be indicating more of the same for the next few days, so I will be making the most of them. Friday I gardened at home - mowing, clearing out the greenhouse, planting tulips, sowing lettuces in the greenhouse. Tomorrow we have a walk/pub lunch planned, but Monday I have the whole day to play with at the allotment.