Eco Garden Maintenance

27/08/2026

The horticultural happenings of late have been mostly pruning and trimming of all sorts of things. Thoughts have been on planting and relocation of plants . That won't be for a while yet but it pays to be ahead of the game.

Some plants are starting to respond to the recent precipitation but it's too late for others, which won't have time to respond before they wind down for autumn and winter.

Some photos of some recent snipping action, a nice view or an interesting plant.

20/08/2026

Today's adventure unfolded in the beautiful garden at Skipwith Hall. The tasks accomplished today included tree pruning and some Yew trimming / topiary.

One of today's creations in the pics below. Is it a hedge or topiary. A hybrid maybe ? It's wiggly, not all the same height,, has sloping sides and a rounded top. I love features like this. It will be here through every season as it's evergreen and doesn't fade away like a herbaceous border.

16/08/2026

There is a magical machine that sucks carbon out of the air, costs very little and builds itself.

Who knew. What is this new fangled answer to all our problems?

14/08/2026

I haven't had the inclination to post much recently. Too hot, tired and sad with the way gardens are looking far from their best (due to the endless heat, sun and drought conditions). I haven't seen a green lawn in many weeks , apart from one small one which the owner has been watering.

I've been busy doing lots of watering and that is hard work especially if growing mediums have turned hydrophobic. Dead heading, pruning, trimming, topiary. The most surprising job has been collecting large amounts of fallen leaves, it's like autumn in some places (the sandy soil areas mostly).

Praying for rain 🙏 A few pics of some recent snipping action.

04/08/2026

A purple loosestrife (native) that I introduced in to this wet d**e side last autumn. The yellow in the background is the flower of common fleabane. The small pink flowers are great willowherb. I love purple loosestrife so much, I'm going to get it growing all along here over the next few years. It's definitely a moisture lover and doing very well here. There is some meadowsweet in here as well as a few other natives.

31/07/2026

Snipperty snip snip in Barkston Ash and Micklefield today.

30/07/2026

30/07/2026

Today's gardening delights were enjoyed at Skipwith Hall between York and Selby. I did some strimming, lawn edging and trimming a holm oak (Quercus ilex) hedge.

The hedge trimming turned more into topiary 😁 In this setting i think rounded corners look the best. This hedge was just screaming out to be photographed.

28/07/2026

Today's gardening rituals were performed near the village of Thorner. It wasn't quite as sunny as expected but still 27 degrees and humid. I had a 6.30 am start and proceeded to get bitten on my bum 🤣.

I did some watering of this year's planting, weeding, pruning, dead heading and some trimming of hedges and shrubs. I trimmed a small beech hedge around a small ornamental pond and fountain. The pond was a little low so I topped it up whilst in the vicinity.

Whilst dead heading roses, I found a Robin's pin cushion (rose bedeguar gall). This unusual looking and harmless growth is caused by a species of gall wasp (Diplolepis rosae). The adult wasp lays eggs in the buds or developing leaves during mid-summer period. The eggs hatch into small white larvae that secrete chemicals that cause the abnormal growth.