Wildlife & Gardens

@Stevohorn is your expert here.

I've spent the last 10 years changing the lumpy weed ridden excuse for a lawn I purchased into something worthy. Lawnsand, scarify seed top dress twice a year. feed, only water when necessary etc. I do enjoy creating a good strip with a manual cylinder mower. Only this year is it starting to look acceptable although there's still some dead thatch in their I need to extract..

Given my time again I would have ripped it up levelled and started from seed.

 

It's also the best time to grow asparagus directly from seed in the bed.

 

You've clearly been bought by the infamous asparagus lobby.

 

I returfed an area in my Watford house. Was a concrete ramp so had it dug out and returfed that - about 3m squared.

Think I did that in the height of summer though as didn't research at the time, just wanted it done.

Did pretty well though as kept it well watered every evening.

 

That's the key keeping it well watered when establishing, but regular watering does stunt root growth and drought tolerance. I'd always go seed over turf but obviously theres'a time factor involved.

 

How would you best go about levelling? At some point the people before me seem to have had a tree removed from the middle of the lawn and it dips and then bumps. I'd love a nice, flat surface for the squirrels to dig up.

 

That honestly looks like you have stuck a shop-bought spear into the ground, just to show off to some strangers on a forum.

 

What's the first rule of asparagus club?

 

Depends on the depth of the dip.
Less than half an inch finely seived topsoil/sand mix. Use a back of a broom to spread it out.
Anything more half an inch in depth, then cut an x in the turf, peel back the triangles and pack with topsoil then lay back down. Tread in well.

 

The first rule of asparagus club is don't sniff your pee.

 

"1. Any person who wishes to join asparagus club must be nominated by an existing member and pay their annual subscription promptly to the secretary each April."

Pretty mundane if you ask me.

 

That’s also rules 2&3.

 

I’m flattered .
Plenty of funny shaped and stringy ones that would certainly not have created any doubt in your mind ! I photoed the best one though.

 

I’m amazed at the level of gardening knowledge on display here. I’ve learned a few things reading this thread. It has reinforced my belief that we are all the same and our differences are minimal even at the extremes.

@Sting, you mentioned you had a farm, any advice for a townie about to start out in the country would be greatly appreciated?

 

We are all Moog

The phrase "Ear! Gerrofff my land!" needs to be complied with quick smart as farmers have shotguns.

 

Wrong country bruh!
https://www.gov.scot/policies/landscape-and-outdoor-access/public-access-to-land/

They’re will be no guns on my land. A sanctuary for even the most venomous vermin... except ticks!

 

CC, I believe Sting is ‘away’ for a while but, having uncannily similar political views, maybe I should step in.

I recommend you stay in the city & start your farm there!

Brooklyn Grange is just one of the American enterprises which runs farms on rooftops. You need an acre for basic scale & be meticulous in your planning. Getting the soil up (10 inches depth) is a nuisance & don’t expect to break even from produce alone.

The simplest way to identify potential sites is Google Earth.

The Farm on the Roof by Anastasia Cole Plakias will reveal more.

 

Difficult to gain a sense of scale.

That spear could be one inch or a 100 feet high.

 

@RookeryDad ,

I’ve always struggled with your meaning, interesting and amusing,

yet confusing.

No offence intended whatsoever, more curiosity.

No pomposity.

I only usually read the politics section so may be missing other nuances,

that would give me chances.

Are you a poet by trade?

Thanks for letting me know @Sting wasn’t ignoring me.

 

Unexpected!

And most welcome!

Interesting that you avoid the football related areas of WFC Forums.

Does this show how far the forum has come?

 

I’d say considerably closer to the former.

 

I’m no horticulturist but that does seem preferable.

Btw, are you still in Spain?

Any observations to share?

 

Yes at Picos de Europa.
Observations - it’s too bloody hot.

 

A Vuelta classic.

 

I advise you to drink more of the local cider - poured from a great height - possibly straight into the mouth.

 

Yes have been drinking and spilling a lot of their cider which basically seems like our scrumpy. Lots of photos and video of alcohol being split when being poured 4 feet.
Lovely area. Started San Sebastián, then fishing village, then 3 nights in the Picos. Took lots of sweatshirts and jeans to cope with the cold mountain tops. It’s 35 degrees. Too hot to walk unless start v early (it’s a holiday FfS) or on the very mountain tops. Off to the coast again tomorrow pm then fly home out of Bilbao on Sunday.

 

Another bloody word I have to look up to understand one of your posts.

 

Strictly speaking that’s not an observation . More of a sensation from your thermo regulatory system and possibly a nerve signal from your exposed skin to your brain .

 

Wow. You’ve out-pedantic-ed me!

 

No it’s an observation. I read the temperature on a website and saw the impact it was having on wildlife.

I read it’s hot back in the uk too so arranged for someone to water my fledgling asparagus

 

I seem to be a breeding ground for starlings.
Over 50 here at present,with a second brood of youngsters decimating the fat balls.I've ordered 150 more from my usual supplier but had to nip out and buy 20 to tide them over.
New bird on feeder.
Bigger than sparrows, thinner beak and dull colouring.
I've no idea who he or she could be.
Ford Dante Perikles is sporting his skull and crossbones collar.I warned him to leave the birds alone but he ignored me.

 

God bless your murmuration

 

They are very loud,but still not as noisy as my coach colleague who subscribes to the Wellington theory of shouting at his army/students!

 

Apologies for the delayed update on the bird box terrorist attack. Today I had a free afternoon so took down the blue t*t bird box. You can see the damage done by the woodpecker in this picture.



I don't think the sod got them because the hole wasn't big enough and inside there was no evidence of death. I took the box apart and it was obvious that it's sell by date was long gone. Attempts to repair led to more damage.



So with some old decking, a bit of roofing felt and some metal mesh to protect against future attacks, I knocked together this bad boy in about an hour.



I even had time to clear a bit of space for the robin nest box that my eldest daughter got me for fathers day. Should be well hidden again in a few months.

 

Is it air rifle proof ?