Raking season

The raking season went for about 10 weeks: April, May, and half of June. I think the two large, deciduous trees in the back garden are an oak, and a liquidamber, with the latter being by far the most prolific shedder of leaves.

During that period, I would rake the entire yard thrice weekly. I had two wheelie bins, three large, black, council provided recycling bins, and 7 very large, thick black plastic bags. Of course, I could not put them all out for collection each week, so it was a case of juggling. Now that is behind me, I am working my way around the garden beds, replacing the dried leaves with lucerne mulch. Should finish that just in time for Spring!

Keeping the garden healthy

Our friend, Gail, drove down the F3 this morning, through the fog and the sleet, carrying two sacks of lucerne mulch for our veggie garden. The produce must get through, you know. Inside the sacks are sweepings from her prep shed in the stables. Not the horse pens, not manure and all. But sweepings from beneath her feet. When I was up at Gail's horse stud two weeks ago, waiting for her at the stock feed store, I tallied up the various types of mulch available, and asked for her opinion re best for my purposes. She assured me that lucerne mulch fitted my requirements perfectly, as not only would it retain the moisture in the soils, but also it would add organic nutrients which neither pea-straw nor hay-stalks would. I am hoping it will reduce the quantity of weeds that are currently sprouting ... everywhere. We are getting near the pointy-end of this garden-creating lark. Coming up to five months of work.