Weekly catch up with garden and propagation

This week in Propagation

with Rob

We've hit that point of the year where in the growing department we find ourselves in that liminal stage, teetering on the edge between, 'the weather looks alright.' and 'we can't get caught out!' But humming and hawing isn't our style, so preparations for the wetter months ahead have begun!

Emily, Debbie and Jess headed down to the Scree Garden, for where much of the year Beth's succulent collection is displayed. These showstoppers have returned to their greenhouse hibernation spot until their return next year. I couldn't tell you how many we have. It's a lot. Some people would say we have 'enough', although I imagine Emily would disagree.

Recent visitors to the garden might have noticed we are doing some exciting work on our ponds. Ned and Jim have been resident superheroes, breathing new vitality into these gorgeous spaces. The growing team were called in to help remove some of the mud which had escaped the machines.

We were in some way the detritivores of the process. Of course, we didn't digest any, but Kiran was able to bring out her artistic side.

Elsewhere, Kirsten and Beth have started our winter protection work.

It's a huge part of our year, and the duo started this task by bringing in our stock of Acanthus mollis, which some may know as bear's breeches. We find in pots they do much better in our polytunnel during the colder, damper months.

Richard was exceptionally happy to have a team of help this week on our stock beds, where he was joined by Lily, Ludi and Sarah in a manner of weeding, lifting and planting. A super job!

Until next time.

Rob

This week in the Garden

with Scott

I had an exciting opportunity last weekend helping the Beth Chatto team at the Great Dixter autumn plant fair. Having previously visited the garden a few times with work, this was a chance to go behind the scenes, working with Åsa and Emily. We set up our stall early, spoke with hundreds of visitors across the weekend and got to meet lots of friends, old and new. It was a privilege to stay in the house overnight, and to get to explore the amazing gardens at dawn and dusk. Thank you to all the amazing team at Great Dixter for a brilliant weekend.

Returning to the garden it was straight back to work, where the team got into waders and waterproofs. The ponds that stretch the length of the Water Garden are undergoing a major rejuvenation project this autumn, perhaps their first large scale works since the 1980s. Although the team regularly maintain the ponds by getting into them, cutting back plants and removing blanket weed for example, this work needed the help of some bigger machinery. After careful planning to reduce the impact on our wildlife, the plants and the wider garden, as much as possible, Jim and Ned set about the task. Our aim is to reduce the deep silt layer of organic matter that has built up over the years, which has made the ponds shallow and increasing difficult to manage, including keeping the large clumps of Thalia dealbata and Pontederia cordata in check.

The ponds are not lined at all, but actually just dug out of the natural clay base found here, with block retaining wall edges, and fed by Elmstead Brook that runs through the garden from the top end, past Beth's house and away.

The garden team has been working hard to remove plants where needed ahead of the work and we’re now beginning the process of rectifying the lawns and borders. It’s a big task for us this autumn and we hope by spring the ponds and gardens will look better than ever. Thanks for your help Ludi, Sarah and Lily!

Enjoy your weekend!