The continuous heat over this summer has taken its toll not only on us but also on our garden. I’d already decided in the spring not to grow many vegetables and leave the two largest raised vegetable beds covered and I’m relieved we did.
This week we made some tough decisions and abandoned several plants growing in pots that were beyond saving. Much to Mr. P’s surprise, I was ruthless because some held special memories, such as gifts from friends who had passed on. But we are not getting any younger, and I have noticed energy levels are depleting every year. The mind is willing, but the body has other ideas.
Pachypodium Lamerei
Friends bought me a Pachypodium Lamerei back in 2017, and despite the odds, it has survived …that is, until now. The plant has two trunks. On one, the foliage has died off completely, and the other does not look happy. On moving the pot this morning, Mr P discovered a huge root had escaped through the hole at the bottom of the pot. Methinks it is seriously pot-bound, but what to do. It is going to be nigh on impossible to remove from the pot due to its vicious spikes. But somehow, remove it we must.
Sadly, the other Pachypodium Lamerei which we bought during COVID met its maker so I hope once we repot this one we can save it.
Raised Vegetable Planters
Is it time to say goodbye? The soil in the raised planters is tired. Roots from the Melaleuca have crept in through the drainage holes and taken over and once again sucked the life out of the soil. I paid to have all the soil replaced a few years ago, but now we are back to square one so I’m tempted to repurpose the huge area in the garden into a pentaque pitch. Ahem, Mr P and family. Possible Christmas present?
Peppers
The yellow peppers were doing well then without warning after months of waiting for them to ripen, I turn my back for a week, thinking they’re all okay, and when I go to pick a pepper for a salad, I am met with,
and the roots from the melaleuca hedge have also found their way into these planters.
Strawberry Planter
Is it too much trouble for too little reward? Given the roasting hot summer and the idea that we are trying to reduce the workload in the garden with plants that are less ‘needy ‘, I wonder if it is time to say goodbye to the strawberry planter and try and sell it.
Passiflora
Despite my best efforts to keep it alive and Mr P removing all the dead leaves, we finally lost the battle. Some things are just meant to be. Dig it out of the pot, replace the earth and buy a new plant.
Pelargoniums
To end on a more cheerful note: After ruthlessly pruning their stems to stumps barely above the surface (with an OMG have I killed it) in August, by October the pelargoniums are shooting again.
That’s it for this week, folks. For more Six on Saturday gardens, check out our host over on Jim’s blog.
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