This is part of a weekly (or fortnightly if I'm lacking content) series about owning an allotment. Click here for the Introduction Post. I am NOT a keen gardener, so this series will be telling tales of stuff I learn as the seasons progress. Hopefully you find it interesting, you might find some of it useful, and if you have any comments, questions or even better, some useful tips to share, then please add them below
The previous post refered to the completion of the Shed. THe next task was to clear some ground next to it in preparation for growing wildflowers for bees and butterflies for next year. It wasn't going to be an easy or fun job, but it definitly needed doing... unfortunately we chose the hottest day of the year so far to do it!
my partner worker hard while I faff around with the camera!
Last week temps in the UK hit highs of 35C, and even further up North in Lincolnshire we reached 31C! We decided to get to the allotment early before the heat had a chance to build up, so we arrived at 8:30.
The plan was clear most of the Brambles (Rubus fruticosus) out of the section near the shed. It has a reputation of spreading everywhere and smothering anything nearby. In between the brambles were some interesting plants such as a Buddleia and some Rosebay Willow-Herb. As I already mentioned I don't do a great deal of gardening, so I wasn't sure what to take out and what to leave behind.
"Get rid of anything spiky or thorny!" My green-fingered partner instructed.
I like simple instructions! 😉
Two hot and sweaty hours later, most of the brambles had been cleared. There will still be bits of root we have missed, so it will keep growing back. So for the rest of this year I will be keeping an eye for any new shoots and pulling them up.
The heat was starting to build, so we tidied up and returned home. There is no point watering the plants now as it will literally evaporate as soon as the water hits the ground. We will return later this evening to water the plants, and work out what the next job will be.
Spoiler: I strongly suspect it will be more labour intensive clearing of brambles
Bonus Wildlife:
As a photographer and lover of wildlife, I always keep my eyes open in case there is something interesting...
And today was no exception! On one of the plants I spotted this enormous caterpillar. It is about 2 inches long and was spotted on the path next to the shed.
Elephant Hawkmoth Deilephila elpenor
It is an Elephant Hawkmoth Caterpillar. The large grey appearance apparently gives the illusion of an elephants trunk which gives it its rather naff name. I actually saw one of the adults of this species earlier this year.
Thank you for reading. Any comments or suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated!
All images taken by
All wildlife names confirmed and checked via Wikispieces
