Is it possible...

...to Puppy-Proof a Garden? ....

....Probably not....

Puppy-proofing the border with a small wire fence.
I added this little barrier fence this week

I am neither optimistic enough nor stupid enough to think the little wire fence will keep Seren out of the garden.   It might remind her not to leap out of the kitchen door and tear across it though.

I don't want her to not enjoy the garden.   Equally I don't want her to think she can destroy it.   Dogs are smart, they can learn.  I think it will be up to me to keep her well exercised so that she doesn't need to dig, to play tug with plants or to race across flowers and vegetables.

There are other pests in the garden apart from Puppy Seren.

February is a good month for digging if the weather isn't too awful.   This week I have spent considerable time in the garden, pruning mostly, not digging, though that is planned for tomorrow if the day is suitable.  I spend my time observing and thinking about the garden when I am out there.   I have been out more than usual to take Seren out to answer her 'calls of nature'.

There's great value to knitting or digging up your garden or chopping up vegetables for soup, because you're taking some time away from turning the pages, answering your emails, talking to people on the phone, and you're letting your brain process whatever is stuck up in there. Chellie Pingree

Nematodes as pest control

One of the things I've been thinking about is how to control slugs and snails.   Certainly for my Hostas I think nematodes may be the answer. Here is a link that explains how they work.

Later on I will order some nematodes and give it a go.   Maybe once the pond is up it will attract toads and frogs to eat the slugs...if I could think of a way to keep a couple of ducks I'd get some...it is all about who will look after them if I go away for a a weekend or longer.  That's the problem...one day there may be a solution to that too.

"Probably more pests can be controlled in an armchair in front of a February fire with a garden notebook and a seed catalog than can ever be knocked out in hand-to-hand combat in the garden."

-  Neely Turner

Another thought while musing in the garden

The greenhouse in Woodcraft yard and solar panel,
also the clips holding the panels in

I had reason (a need for some stakes for my little puppy-proofing fence) to visit the local hardware shop, Woodcraft in Pyle.   It's a fabulous old fashioned hardware shop where you can still buy nails loose by weight instead of in packets of 12....anyway, they have a garden section.   Out there I saw they had recently erected the very same greenhouse model as I have.   There was one significant difference, if you click on the photo it will enlarge and you will see some wire clips holding in the panels.  Now if mine had these maybe the panels would withstand more wind power (more about wind power later).  My greenhouse did not have these very essential clips when it was delivered in kit form....I have bought a packet of them...unfortunately not sold loose,by weight, like the nails.



The other difference you will see is the solar panel mounted on a post.   This apparently drives the power needed for the automatic watering system with which the greenhouse and garden bed to rear of the greenhouse are watered regularly (not visible in the photo).   I did a rapid bit of googling to see what I could find out about them...and discovered there are all sorts of solar powered gadgets on the market...a shed light....solar watering system...to name but two....hmmmm.

Some gardeners reading this live in a part of the world where electricity outages are a norm of day to day life...is there not food for thought here?  And D in Sweden...what about this for light and heating and ventilation in your greenhouse-to-be?   Here is a link for you to see how to make your own.

Wind Turbines

While talking about alternative power...I heard this at breakfast time this morning...

We in the UK are paying through our electricity bills to have wind turbines turned off for part of the day because too much electricity is generated by them!   What....apparently it is something to do with the lines to the grid being insufficient to cope with the supply from off-shore wind farms.  Here is the link so you can read the story for yourselves.

Plants and Seeds.

Black Opal Tomato

Lastly, may I just say a big Thank You to the person who bought me an annual subscription to Gardeners World....apart from a wonderful informative glossy to read every month the free offers to subscribers are great.  For the cost of postage only, £3.20,  I have already ordered 6 Tomato plants due to arrive by end of April.  2 x Gardener's Delight, 1 Sungold, 1 Black Opal, 1 Green Zebra and 1 x Sweet Aperitif.

Later on today I will scrub up some seed pots and plant the chili seeds I eventually found last week...they were also free with a magazine I bought late last year.   I guess someone I know might get a chili plant for his birthday this year ...if they germinate.


Right now...well, right now it is time for a certain little puppy-dog to have a walk round the garden....while I have been tapping this she has chewed up one cardboard box, one bath sponge and draped some washing from the airer around the landing....now she is napping!

Happy gardening, and happy thinking and planning your gardens, till next time we chat.

PS Eating the last of last year's blackcurrants in a fruit crumble today for dessert at lunch time.  Fruit crumble made with my blackcurrants and the apples from my neighbour's tree...no fruit-miles at all!  And oh so yummy.