It’s October, and with summer socialising, holidays, and houseguests behind us, it’s time to knuckle down and undertake some serious work in the garden. Armed with a pen, clipboard, and critical eye, I made an extensive ‘To Do’ list. However, my enthusiasm soon ran out of steam. I’m sure you know the feeling when I say ‘ ‘the mind is willing, but the body refuses to cooperate‘. Don’t you just love getting old? Not
Cut Back PlumbagoIrrigation system- Cut back Bourganvealia
- Onion plant – remove dying leaves
- Oleander- Work in Progress
- Weed and tidy vegetable area
- Clean seating area on the front terrace
- Remove black mould on rocks
Clear Work Area and Potting Bench- Repot hydrangeas
- Front Rockery (still work in progress)
Plant Stand- Trim Hop bush hedge
- Clean (remove dead foliage) and prune front side garden
- Deadhead Canna plants and feed.
- Side succulent garden -clear and clean
- Plant up freesia bulbs
- Empty the strawberry planter and redesign the central watering system.
- Bromelia need attention
- Inside plants.
After making the list, the weather and mosquitoes conspired against us, and we only completed four out of the eighteen, plus two jobs are still in progress.
- Cut back Plumbago bush.
The plumbago before. The blue flowers were beautiful but shed everywhere and stuck to your shoes and clothes.
And after the haircut. Okay, it’s not so Zen and pretty, but at least we can get the cars on and off the drive. This is NOT a shrub to plant near a swimming pool or pond. Trust me when I say the flowers fall continually. The shrub’s prolific and beautiful flowers create a lot of work.
2. Clear Work Area and Potting Bench
A picture saves a 1000 words.
Before
After
I use an old composter to store all the plant pots
3. Replace Veg Planter Irrigation System
The feeder pipe degraded in the sun and split in several places. We could have left it and continued watering by hand but as the saying goes, don’t put off ’til tomorrow what you can do today and it’s fixed when we need it. This was a major job for Mr. Piglet and kept him out of mischief for several days. He ripped out the old system, much of which was buried under pots, etc., laid the new feeder pipe, and inserted the microbore into all the pots. It was not an easy job.
4. Revamping Front Rockery
This was the rockery in July 22 a few months after it was planted.
The photographs below were taken late September 24. Most of the plants are now dead or struggling to survive. I don’t know why. I have now removed the dying plants, repotted them, and put them in the nursery in the hope that they will survive.
Yes, we’ve had a drought this year, but we’ve still watered with excess water from showers, dehumidifiers, etc. The only thing I can think of is that the huge Washingtonia is sapping the water from that area.
Now, I need to rethink. Maybe the spaces left by the dead or struggling plants should be replaced with a mini cacti garden in a pot
and another pot or feature in this area. This rockery enjoys full sun. I’m looking for ideas.
A simple tidy-up turned into a larger project. Plants were dug up, repotted, and rehomed in the Plant Nursery, which also enjoyed a makeover.
5. Display Stand
All the plants on the succulent display stand I either repotted, deadheaded or discarded. The top row is home to all my Queen of the Night cuttings.
6. Reduce the Height of the Oleander and Prune Into the Shape – WORK in Progress
The Oleander is now at least twice my height. I started to prune it but conceded it was a job for Mr. Piglet and his hedge cutter to remove the height. Poor Mr. P’s job list get’s longer.
The dead flowers are also staining the patio
and the leaves and dead flowers on the Brita will also need raking up
That’s it for this week, folks. I’m now off to try and complete another two jobs on the list.
How do you eat an elephant?
For more six on Saturday gardens check out Jim’s blog and for the monthly gardening blog hop check out https://bosworth.life/blog/10/1/the-garden-year-october-2024
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Piglet in Portugal 
There’s always so much to do – but it looks like you’re making really good progress. Thanks for sharing with #TheGardenYear
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Hi Stephanie, thanks for stopping by. Yes, there is always something to keep us busy on Piglet’s Plot. This week it is our vegetable garden. 🙂 We will see. At the moment we are enjoying some much needed rain.
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It’s a long list but you’ve made good inroads. The display stand is great
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Yep, it is a long list but hopefully I’ll tick off another six jobs by this Saturday
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Well done. Thank you for your to-do list. it reminded me of a few tasks, I’d not thought about….repot hydrangeas, deadhead & feed cannas and a few others. I covered myself in my waterproof clothing (old golf gear).), mask, goggles, hat and gloves and tackled my white oleander. My neighbors probably think I’m a crazy woman😆.It was taking over. I’ve cut it back quite drastically and look forward to a more compact and manageable plant.
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Hi Miriam, don’t worry. My neighbours know I’m crazy so join the club. The waterproof clothing is probably a good idea to stop mosquitoes as well. Today I was only wearing shorts and sleeveless top ..27C and humid.
Mosquitoes ate me for lunch.
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It is really interesting seeing what you have growing in your Portuguese patch. Good luck with the list!
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I Rosie, applogies for the late reply, I found you in my Spam box.We are working through the list very slowly. 🙂
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It seems to me that you got quite a lot done. That is one ambitious list.
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Yep, and I’m back on it now 🙂 Currently sorting out all the old freesia bulbs.
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Love freesias!
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Hi, lots of lovely things this week. I really like the display stand and the rockery garden
I also pruned my Oleander, it’s the right time. About the plumbago yours is really beautiful and the pruning will certainly be beneficial for next year. A plant I’d like to grow here but it’s too cold in winter. An overwintering solution would be an idea.
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The display stand was a happy accident. We bought it for the house and then had no wall space. I also have a lot of succulents in small pots and painted stones etc … perfect.
I am not looking forward to the Oleander task.
The plumbago is evergreen. I wonder if you grew it whether it would. Or if you cut it right back every autumn and covered it for the winter would that work. The flowers are on the new growth.
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When we still lived in our house, it was a big corner lot and had perennial beds all around the yard. Reading your post this morning reminded me of all of the work involved in caring for flowers and shrubbery. I no longer have that to worry about in our condo life here in Canada, but I’m just beginning again as we re-landscape the yard of our Texas home. Your post has me thinking that I should likely pay close attention to what I choose to do there and simplify as much as possible, because we’re certainly not getting any younger either. One bite at a time, Carole and take good care to rest in between tasks.
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Yep, one bite at a time, Terry. We never thought of retirement when we planted hedges etc. This year I never bothered with bedding plants as they take to much time, effort and water. I am moving more onto succulents and cacti which, hopefully once established should be self-sufficient. HAve you considered these?
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Yes! Cacti and succulents are perfect for Texas. Thinking maybe bamboo as well.
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Wow, that was a lot to do on that list. I think I might do one too.. just planted all the food plants for the new season (kale, cabbage, beetroot, onions etc). Your plumbago looks lovely, I just planted mine and realize its not in a place where I want it to be that big. But good it doesn´t die when get cut back. An irregation system is a lot of work to plan and install. We only have it for a few trees. I use bags instead, that I fill with rainwater from our IBS-tanks. Its also some work but for me the best way to know how much I give each tree. We also collect water from our shower and the humidifyer, its several liters that its important to use imo. I really like your display stand! Thinking If I can have something similar for all my pots I just now placed in the shadow of the fig tree.
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The list keeps me focused… because I have a habit of starting one job, get distracted and move onto something else. I hope the list will keep me focused. I got the idea from a fellow gardening blogger and have now forgotten who so I can give them credit!
The plumbago has not died back yet but that is an established plant of about 17 years. Just don’t plant it near a walkway.
I collect all our rainwater (when we have it). And the dehumidifers water etc as you say. IT’s amazing how much is wasted. I once tried to redirect the grey water from the washing machine but ended up flooding the garage 😦 (I only use a natural product) I am intrigued by bags. How do they work? HAve you made a post to your blog?
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Good you found a way to finish what you started. Here I have written about the tree bags. https://www.anna-forsberg.se/tradgardsfredag-5/
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I’m glad you included the Oleander as one of the six – I was curious what ‘Oleander- Work in Progress’ meant! It’s odd to see the Plumbago plant outside – my wife grows one as a houseplant. For some reason it hasn’t flowered for a few years (not enough sun I suspect) – and I can’t say I’m sad as the flowers do stick to everything!
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Hi Trowel – Oleander work in progress will probably feature on my completed list next week.
Maybe you sent the wrong vibes to your wife’s poor Plumbago 🙂 Yep it does need quite a lot of sun I believe. I love the plant but just wished I’d not planted it by the drive and entrance gate.
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