Finally, I have got all the leaves swept up from the lawn. I’m sure a few more will find there way there but they can be removed by the lawn mower when next used. The last part of the lawn to be cleared was the circle up by the pond and pergola.
It took me 3 sessions to clear this lot.
I had left them too long and they were really thick.
With a break for coffee and then another one for lunch….
…. finally they were all gone!
Even better news is that practically all the leaves are down from the big, ancient trees, so now I just have the woodland to clear, to make way for the snowdrops.
When you get a thick layer of Horse Chestnut leaves, which take for ever to rot down, I have found from bitter experience that little precious plants quite often give up and die when smothered. The black labels mark just some of my precious snowdrops.
Sometimes even the labels get buried.
This is my leaf mould pile in a corner of the woodland. It is about 5 ft high x 4 ft wide and 8 ft long. Eventually it will rot down to about a quarter of what it is now.
When it has rotted down, it then gets put back onto the snowdrop beds, but some snowdrops just can’t wait.
I’m going to have to be extra careful raking up the leaves in this corner. I’ve never had snowdrops flowering in November before, my earliest ones are usually out by Christmas. I think I might just have to do this area by hand so that I don’t damage the little flowers.
Great care will be needed and of course it all depends on the weather how much time I will be able to spend in the garden. Christmas preparations are also taking priority at the moment, but hopefully I can get the woodland prepared before too many more snowdrops decide to join the early risers.
Well done Pauline! That is a good job done for this year, and it will do your garden a lot of good next year.
Thank you Anne, it was worth all the aching muscles! The plants do appreciate the leaf mould that they get every year, I wish I had more of it.
Ah! Leaf mould is wonderful stuff. I’m having a go at making some this year. I have lots of oak leaves that don’t rot quite as quickly as I’d like, but I think in time they will eventually. I have a small hand rake that I use for raking around little plants that have popped up when I didn’t expect them to.
I think of it as black gold Alison. We have loads of oaks leaves too, they make lovely leaf mould when they have rotted down. I think I’ll just have to use my fingers round my little snowdrops that have popped up early.
Quite a job there Pauline. I will be looking forward to seeing more of your snowdrops.
Yes Susie, this was one job that my dear husband used to do for me, I have found it quite difficult. Never fear, there will be lots more snowdrop photos when more have woken up from their slumbers.
Congratulations on completing such a huge task and setting a good example for the rest of us!
Thank you Peter, I hadn’t realised I was setting an example, it was just something that had to be done! For the past 5 or 6 weeks sweeping leaves is all the gardening I have done, the back lawn was cleared twice a week, thank goodness the trees are now bare and I can concentrate on other gardening jobs now.
A job well done Pauline, and all that lovely leafmould to come! Nice ro see your little flowers appearing already. Several people in the UK have reported early snowdrops this year.
Thanks Cathy, the leafmould is so precious! Snowdrops seem to be much earlier this year, lots have their little noses poking out of the ground, but they have decided to wait a while.
Judy and I raked all the leaves this past Sunday. It’s not a big job since there isn’t much lawn. I manage to keep all the leaves in the garden one way or another.
I really love all the old trees that we have Jason, but they do make a lot of work at this time of year. The leaf mould that they make gets added to every new planting hole as well as being used as a mulch for the snowdrops and hellebores, the plants seem to love it.
Good job, it’s such a relief when those big tasks are finally wrapped up. The snowdrops must be a surprise. Will they be fine for the rest of the winter after having come up so early? I worry about bulbs which poke up so early, but things get much harsher here.
Lovely when all the hard work is done for another year Frank.I was very surprised when I saw the snowdrops flowering in November, but yes, they will be fine, they are used to low temperatures and snow, not that we get much of that where we are.
You have been working very hard Pauline, such a big job but I imagine very satisfying when it’s completed. Snowdrops so soon that is amazing! You’ll have to buy them a calendar lol!
Yes, Denise, I’m glad the worst is over and I can now think of other jobs that need doing. It was such a surprise to see the snowdrops so early, I hope they know what they are doing!
Well done Pauline; all that raking means you definitely don’t need to go to the gym! All the snowdrops seem to be very early this year. I even have two flowering, and they are just the usual single ones which would normally be much later.
I agree Christina, no need for a gym when there are leaves to sweep up! Lots more snowdrops are up and nearly flowering but mine are specials, no sign of the wild ones yet.