My top three garden tools, sweeping, planting garlic and stringing lights.
Hello friends - thank you as always for all your wonderful messages. Love them xx
My five minute gardening forays this week:
Monday: I've been procrastinating with the bulbs...caught up in the idea that it is too big a job, and then I suddenly remember that this is THE FIVE MINUTE GARDEN, and I only do FIVE MINUTES a day (if that), which gets me out there immediately and ripping open the packets, mixing all the bulbs up and scattering them, slap-dash style into large holes that I make with a spade. This is quite a good way of doing things if you are short on time, as it means you don't have to make a plethora of small individual holes, but of course it only works if you have large-ish spaces. Having thought it would take me a few days to do, I actually got the whole lot in in one go. This is a dubious victory, as it definitely means that I have not planted enough bulbs. More must be sourced and planted, but not this week.
Tuesday: I open a box of lights on a string that I recently bought, containing four allium-esque things, with tiny LEDs twinkling. I wind these things very in-expertly around the lower branches of my apple tree, plug them in and wait for evening. To say that they didn't provide a TAH DAHHHH moment would be untrue. I love and adore them (despite the fact that they have a few flashing blue LEDs amongst the white)...I love them so much that I've decided to order more.
Wednesday: Buoyed by Monday's victory, I rip open a bag of garlic bulbs, separate the cloves, pick fifteen of the fattest and best, and push them into a large container full of soft multi-purpose compost with lots of added grit. I water but not copiously, and go inside, smug as you like, knowing I'll have garlic next year.
Thursday: My lawn mower is broken. This is a disaster, as I use my lawn mower not just to mow the lawn, but also to 'hoover' it of the leaves and detritus that November brings. So I get the rake out and make several little piles of leaves, which my youngest then runs through mercilessly, hooting with mirth. I try to distract her by getting her to sweep with me, and I give her a dustpan and brush which keeps her amused long enough for me to sweep the paths...no more though.
Friday: I pay my neighbour's gardener to come and mow the lawn. This is IMMENSELY satisfying (as long as you don't think about the expense...which I very sensibly don't). His petrol mower is brilliant and zips through slightly wet grass in a way that my old machine cannot. He wants to charge me five pounds extra to take away the mowings. I am shocked at the suggestion and say I need them for my Darling (Hotbin). He looks bemused.
My favourite tools
I've been thinking a lot about reducing the amount of STUFF that surrounds me, paring things, like clothes and shoes and books and oh, I dunno baking equipment - down to the essential. And it struck me that I don't seem to have the same hoarding problem with garden tools. Over the years I've whittled things down to just what I need, and what serves me. So I thought I would share my few essential pieces, so that if any of you were thinking of treating yourselves to something for the garden it might inspire you. Having said that though, it's a very personal thing - lots of gardeners will think I am mad putting a 'widger' at the top of my list, I had a gardener friend once who said she absolutely couldn't garden unless she had a hand fork with her, and couldn't understand anyone who said otherwise. I duly went and got myself a hand fork, which gets used about twice a year (if that). Anyway, for what it's worth, here are my top three.
1. My long trowel.
I've had this trowel for years. I own other trowels but I hardly ever use them. This one is not for digging holes per say, it is best for weeding out perennials like bindweed...chasing those brittle roots to their core and removing them complete (can you tell I'm getting a bit excited about the thought of that?) It's the only thing I use, other than a hoe, when I'm weeding. It's from Burgon and Ball and I've just found out, in sourcing a link that it is called a WIDGER! You can find it here and probably in lots of other places.
2. My secutaurs.
This is a non-negotiable; you need a pair, whether you're gardening on a windowsill or a massive garden. It doesn't matter what brand they are, as long as they're sharp and they feel good in your hand. Mine are from Fiskars (they guys who make those awesome scissors) and I love them. Keep them sharp with a stone (basically like an emery board for knives).
3. My shears.
I use these for clipping topiary and trimming hedges and climbers, and cutting back perennials at the end of the season, and sometimes for dead-heading many-flowered things. I love them. they are called Oskatune shears and they are from Niwaki - expensive but I've had rather too many bad pairs in the past for this to bother me in the slightest. I have other Niwaki things, because a good tool is a pleasure to use, always.
All the good things, always
x Laetitia
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