It's too wet and I tried to use my electric chainsaw today, but the battery was dead. Maybe tomorrow (I did put battery on charger).

dbarron, I have an electric WORX 16 inch power saw and love the thing! Sure, some of my male friends like to mock me, for some reason they see electric as being something whoosie. The saw is powerful and gotta love not having the hassle of mixing fuel and never worrying about the thing starting ... only drawback is needing a good long length of electrical cord. Anyways, have resumed my huge tree felling project making way to install deer fencing. I enjoy working while the weather remains on the cool side, being all dressed up in protective power saw clothing and boots can make a person quickly overheat and zap the energy!

It was wet, but nearly 70 degrees today. I cut some shrubs I could reach from the pavement and raked leaves. I rake in the Fall, but they magically reappear in the Spring.

I stomped out ruts in the gravel drive, an activity DH refers to as playing in the mud, which is true. It was probably 60F and I had a great time, though since I had forgotten my boots I am not sure the shoes will ever be the same.

Ho yeah, I surely am. I have been plodding on at the allotment all winter...and back in November, it looked every inch an appalling jungle. Massive roses which had not been pruned AT ALL for 4 years...and way too many other TREES on what is basically a council owned community plot (I have been manically filling this space, but (just about) keeping on top of stuff for 18 years or so... until I got a wood. Anyway, to cut to the chase, not only did I get another decent session in (including more veg planting), I also took a turn around the rest of the site.

So, in full disclosure mode, owing to last year's neglectful allotment slacking and droughty despair, I received, for the first time in my life...a 'dirty plot letter'. WTF! Still seething...and energised to have been at it all winter while other allotmenteers are having a seasonal break. Back in November, most of their veggie plots had been harvested and looked fairly neat and tidy...while my plot was a slum. On todays plot tour, I couldn't help but see the results of a mild winter. My plot has, more or less, been battered into submission, while almost everyone else's has a humongous carpet of weeds...and not just the easy-peasy -creeping charlie either. I was practically levitating in glee. Even better, I have threatened and bullied the offspring to spend the weekend on a plot working party to re-lay a whole new lot of raised beds...so yep, feeling stoked.

Still only 48F and windy...but virtue works as a fine self-heating system...and I can make tea in the shed.

Nothing doing here re clean-up - too wet; too muddy; too icy... There are a couple of clumps of snowdrops in bloom now in the midst of the snowy/icy mess though so spring is starting to happen here!

It was awesomely dry and almost warm this week so I chopped back the last of the perennials/grasses and threw around some chopped leaf mulch to cover up all the stuff I was too lazy to rake out. Now the daffodils and crocus can come up in peace and I won't have to watch where I step.

The back yard is a different story. Still too muddy and wet and I have to shuffle to keep from sliding around. Hopefully the last of the ice thaws this week and the ground can dry out a bit so I can get in there as well.

I've picked up lots of sticks..but only from paved areas..the driveway, sidewalk and street..it looks better and I'm happy that I did it but no real "yardwork"..I'm another one that can't walk on my wet, muddy cold ground..and sad to say snow flurries are predicted for Sunday :-(

SW PA last two days were warm enough to work outside (60s ). Picked up branches from the horrible wind we had and got the Preen applied to the gardens. Tomorrow back to the 30s. Oh well it was nice to get outside even if it was only a couple days.

Ooh, naughty Camp! Got a letter eh?

Been one gale after another here with heavy squalls of rain. But there's nothing much to do anyway. Since starting the Dowding no dig on the allotment I've stopped winter digging and just cover it with semi rotted leaves. So far it's worked like a charm. No weeds, no soil compaction from the rain and definite improvement in texture. I did my annual bonfire back in February so all the prunings are dealt with. The only outstanding task is getting a tray of broad beans planted and all that's stopping me is disinclination to go out in the blustery weather. The only job in the garden is standing the blown over pots back up and I'm not bothering until the weather changes. They can stay where they are for the time being.

Yep Floral - I was demented...but I have varying spats with each new council worker because I grow so many non-edibles...and this latest lot seem keen to impose a 70/30 split. However, they are OK with 'herbs' and also 'dye' plants and since no-one has a clue what such might be, I am still free to pursue a flowery majority.

Ah yes, no dig. Been doing this since I got a plot - putting in boundaried beds was the first thing I did and after years of simply leaving all the pulled weeds on the surface all my seedling pots, then any compost, the beds are soft and friable. Mind, I have a cow if anyone walks on them. I don't even trench the potatoes - just pop them in with a bulb planter (this has caught on and most of the plot owners do it too.).I have had 3 bonfire sessions and will need at least another 2 to finally dispose of the prunings. I used to put the rose canes through the chipper but, even with huge gauntlets, there will be blood-letting...and a couple of times, canes have whipped round and thrashed me in the face.

Yep, the south coast has been having a torrid time of it with winds and gales. My plot is surrounded by high buildings and actually dips down below road level (it is on the site of old gravel workings) so we are sheltered from the wind...but in a big frost pocket. Always something.

Glad to see I’m not the only one getting outside a bit! Although I had to put snowshoes on to get to my arbs and remove the burlap. It’s getting warmer outside and the snow is very wet. I slipped and fell twice! I did not think that was possible with snowshoes! :). If my neighbors were looking, they got free entertainment! :)

Snowshoes!!!

Hardcore, Maz.

Oh my Mazerolm, I'm glad you are okay and I am shivering a bit thinking of all that snow! At least snow can be a soft-ish place to fall?

I was truly badly behaved. Last Sunday after really cold temperatures, we had a day in the 60's. I didn't care the soil was basically mud. I rearranged the vegetable garden plus did a ridiculous amount of other gardening chores in a state of semi-euphoria. I skipped lunch and stayed outside for 7 hours. It was glorious and probably compacted the soil everywhere i stepped. Can't bring myself to be the least bit guilty about that.

This weekend i really need to concentrate on building a new raised bed with a row cover for all my leafy greens. The cabbage moth and various other unknown nasties will guck up my kale to a point I just can't eat it as it will be covered with all types of yuck. Double washing after soaking in salt water couldn't remove everything. Covering with a fine cloth (physical barrier) worked great last year, so I am expanding using hoops over a raised bed.

Thanks PosieRosie! We still have 3-4 feet of snow at most places so only my pride was hurt!! :)

I also walk all over the garden beds when I know I shouldn’t... :)

When our snow melts I typically have a narrow window of time when the ground is still frozen that I can work in the garden without damaging soil structure. We still have at least a foot of snow in unplowed areas, and I am not willing to garden in snowshoes since just walking in them takes some attention, so I would end up face planting into the snow or getting the snowshoes tangled in shrubs. So I haven’t started working in the garden yet.

I wish I could get some work done but the ground was pure mush after the fast thaw. It was so tempting as I could finally see the gardens until this morning...now covered with snow.

I should be but it's been too cold to be comfortable working outside for my aged bones :-) My landscape contractor did send several of his crew over a week or so ago to do an early clean up....they removed all the winter debris from planting beds, weeded and cut things back. So I am lucky to have a relatively clean slate ready to plant when things do warm up enough for me. Which should hopefully be this coming week as finally our temperatures are predicted to be high enough to consider it spring rather than still midwinter!!

If I am feeling ambitious, I might get out and rake the 'lawn' (and I use that term loosely as it is 95% weeds/moss/groundcovering plants) as it is still littered with small branches, twigs and leaves from the winter storms. And deposits from the pup that I don't care to deal with in pouring rain or excessively cold weather :-( Raking always heats one up!!

Sort of. I pulled weeds yesterday for about thirty minutes but it was just too cold. So I came in and watched past seasons of Gardener's World, and they got a lot done. Does that count?

The last few days we had the big thaw & very heavy rain, so the yard is half ice & pond water. The only thing I get done at this time of year, is clean up the dog's messes that I missed at some point, or was late at night and didn't feel like getting too. Well I didn't think it was too many times, but once all the layers melt there is always more than I counted on. I do try and get them daily, but with 2 dogs and a lot of snow they get hidden. Also our yard waste collection stops after Christmas until the 1st week of April. Mainly because we can't get anything done. I'm very envious of the warmer climates at this time of the year. But I'm looking at everything and doing the mental planning of all the chores needed to be done. And today it's still snowing!

Our ornamental/edible split is one third to two thirds, Campanula. I can live with that. I don't actually grow many ornamentals.

Thank you gardengal! I am so glad someone else has my situation in re lawn. I should get our mowers here to clean up, but they are too expensive, I fear. My yard is the same-even the front yard is 95% weeds and piles of leaves under all the shrubs. I hope our dry weather lasts a week and then I will start the clean-up. We did put three new Sugar Tyme crabapples in our he11 strip last fall to replace ones that died and I removed the supports the city used when they planted them. I cannot wait to see them in bloom-they are starting to leaf out a little now.

Ai yi yi. I was out all morning and just came in bout half an hour ago. Oh my. My feet and back are killing me.

Too nice to not get cleaned up what I could plus nicer weather coming next week.

Everything is pruned and ready for the sunshine. I’m sure the hostas that are still sleeping would appreciate me not scratching around in the dirt looking for them but I can’t help myself.

Thank you Fat Cat, Blue Splendor and HighSociety for coming out to say Hi!

Now I need to go find some more Ibuprofen....

oursteelers..I can relate..I was out for 5 hours a few days ago (when it was warm) picking up debris..I had a great time..but I paid the price..pain everywhere..well at least we got rid of some of "the rust" right?..it should be easier the next time..

There are a couple of clumps of snowdrops in bloom now

I dont believe you until I see pictures :).

Yes!! Spent 7 hours outside yesterday cutting down grasses and doing other cleanup. Had to spend today at a local nursery - they had Nature Day exhibits and my garden club had a booth there at which I helped. Plan on spending all day tomorrow outside as it is forecast to be 18C and sunny. Be still my heart - I think spring is finally here!

It was a gorgeous, sunny day here yesterday-I was even able to inspire DH to come out and play in the dirt with me! The ground is still frozen in spots so I wasn't able to do some of the transplanting I wanted to complete, but I was able to prune and do general clean up. Found a few treasures, too - a patch of snowdrops that migrated from the neighbor's lawn, and some crocuses and daffodils breaking ground. Yay!

Early Spring is definitely here even though we have some late night lows comi I don't believe they'll impact anything.

My husband built my raised bed yesterday while I tackled the huge nasty wild rose. I've been trying to kill it for the last 2 years. It just thanks me for the "haircut" and subsequently doubles in size. I'm hoping this year's severe chopping as a follow up to the same last year might start the weaking process. I will probably be cutting shoots off that monster root system for years.

I bought thin flexible tubing to build hoops over the raised bed. I'm hoping to have lots of bug free kale , spinach, lettuce, etc. It's pretty exciting. :)

I cut the grass. Sorry! I was so glad not to have to shoo away the bugs while weeding.

Mainly running in and picking up the garbage that has been strewn over the course of a Canadian winter. And some chopping down of the perennials and grasses I leave up for winter interest and pollinator protection - but know the new stuff is going to be shooting up soon, so have to clear it out. The majority of the work will be in the back - had a new deck put in last fall and major pruning done of the massive trees just after. Which means everything was moved to the side. And then winter came so fast, and I frankly was enjoying the uncluttered look, I didn’t get around to putting it back. So now I realize a lot of stuff was stacked in the garden, and plants are trying to push up underneath! Horrors! So I quickly have moved most of the main offenders and will continue moving stuff and sorting out as I put everything back together. This is also part of my bigger goal this season of decluttering, so I will be reflecting on every item of it sparks joy - if not, out for my spring plant clearout sale!

On Monday I had a fellow that I know come in and cut 10 large trees, 6 were Eastern
white cedar - Thuja occinentalis. These are part of a hedge that was
planted in the 1920's and I knew the people who planted them. It
pains me to take them down but they are rotting from the base and my
house and power lines are at risk.

He had to stop at the 6 because we still have well over 2 ft. of snow
and the rest need to be taken from the opposite direction. I have to
get a roadway plowed in order to pull/winch them in the direction
they need to fall. Some are leaning quite precariously.

The job needs to be done while there is snow to protect the garden but
mostly because this fellow has a window of time before he goes back
to work in the bush on his regular job as a cutter.

He felled the trees, limbed them and cut them into firewood sized pieces
and posts when appropriate. It took him a little over 21/2 hrs. and
he charged me $50. That amount was not a typo. I will give him a
bonus.

I spent yesterday burning as much of the debris as I could. I will be burning today too.

I would give him a BIG bonus. $50 for 10 trees! I had 48 elm trees cut and roots ground out 4 years ago. $8, 000 US.

I picked up sticks/branches from the many wind storms we’ve had. It was a beautiful sunny day and it felt sooo good to be out there! Oh and I also picked up the beer cans/garbage from the passerbyers grrrrr.

Like Sandy, I’m starting out with little jobs to ‘build myself up’ too. After hibernating all winter it may take some time : /

perenn...what a great guy!!!

LaLennoxa---I can definitely relate to the uncluttered look and had the same reaction as you after cutting back along with looking at old garden pictures from a few years back. At first I was overwhelmed just contemplating the make-over and cleanup but after about 10 intense day long sessions of cleaning, trimming & digging on the nice days we've had since January, I finally have everything trimmed back and ready for spring. I always have to do the spring cleanup in sessions just to be able to get the amount of debris hauled off by the city in my two large receptacles and it took me four weeks during the cold period when the receptacles weren't stuffed to overflowing to finally dispose of a long line of large black trash bags I had filled with grass cuttings and leaves after running out of room in the trash containers. I removed lots of grasses which was pretty labor intensive --- the more I removed, the more I liked the cleaner and more defined look so the more aggressive I became. Basically, I'm moving away from a pocket prairie and back to the more defined SW look I had previously although I did enjoy immensely it for a few seasons. I'm concentrating on creating repeats of the low growing mound type perennials which have proved to be long blooming and good performers to offset the specimen plants, rocks and gravel. I've transplanted several volunteers and direct sowed some other cleared areas. I'm also renewing various prickly pear types of cactus that have become woody and tired looking by making new starts from trimmed pads.

I've been out for quite a few days to pick up sticks..the ground WAS drying up but it's raining at the moment..I have crocuses..snowdrops..hellebores..the daffodils, sedums and peonies are coming up..there's also some small unidentified weeds? and wildflowers..spring is here..

It's a beautiful sunny day and the ground is still either frozen or semi-frozen, so I'm going to try to get out there and cut down perennials that were missed in the fall. I'd like to spray some deer repellant on some woodiees, too -- a head start is a good start on that front.

Saturday was windy and the ground is still plenty wet but enough is enough and I was out there raking sticks and fluffing up mulch. Sunday was warmer and I tried to tackle the compost pile, but it's still mostly frozen so I gave up. Next week looks promising though!

More beautiful weather here today - 60+ degrees and full sun. I transplanted blueberries and gooseberries that weren't getting enough sun, then moved my rhubarb into one of the vacated beds. While I was working, I noticed that a bed I planted with tulips last year is sprouting, so it looks like I have some repeaters/perennializers - we'll see if the blooms are any good. I wasn't expecting anything at all so I'll enjoy whatever I get!

Rhubarb doesn't mind being moved? I was wondering about that. I'd like to add some to my perennial bed, since the leaves are so big and cool-looking!

I picked up debris and sticks strewn about in front. Then evaluated my heuchera bed and found lots of them heaving, so I’ll have to replant when dirt is diggable. At least they all survived and most are still evergreen!
They had at least 12” of snowcover for most of the winter and it just melted this week.

heuchera bed and found lots of them heaving

I find similary for any of my heuchera each spring and I mulch lots in the Fall. (Their roots must be quite shallow but this must be the case with other perennials I have.)

Violets, I sure hope it doesn't mind! Experts often recommend that you dig up and divide your rhubarb every so often so I assume it will do okay. I started this plant from a small chunk of root two years ago and it very quickly outgrew its spot, so it had to be moved. It's roots were 1.5' deep and the ball was about a foot wide - all from a 4" chunk in two years!

I did last week, I did a bit of clean up, trimmed some hydrangeas and roses and made the decision that as much as I LOVE the knockout roses in one of my bed... they are going to have to go, they are all too woody and I think I lost another one this year, so once it gets warmer I will get to it and look for some replacements :)

@Violet: a neighbor told me that the rhubarb in my perennial bed would get very big, so I moved it out. But it did look great while it was in there!

@maz, when you moved your rhubarb, did it regrow at all in same spot? I need to move one this year and have heard they are difficult to get all the roots.

@BMaggic: yes, it did, but it was relatively young, a 3-year old plant, I think.

@texasranger2 - I am very inspired by your spring decluttering. Congratulations! It is so exciting when you pare things down to the basics, and then you come back with: what do I really want here? In addition to the work I've had done, I've also upgraded some of my outdoor items. for example, bought a new bells and whistles BBQ, as barbecuing is one of my outdoor joys. I had an older BBQ, and had gotten another used BBQ which didn't quite work out...so at one point I had three BBQs hanging around on the deck! So finally sold off both of the older ones. I also had one of those mid-sized plastic storage sheds, which was beginning to fall apart. I thought a lot about replacing it with a new plastic one, or upgrading to a wood one. Then I thought, I would actually replace it with a greenhouse, which I got all excited about. But I realized that wasn't quite going to work - and then I went back to my original idea, which was to make that shed area into another outdoor seating area - using this wrought iron loveseat which I had awkwardly thrown into another area. So I finally got rid of that storage shed - and most of the things I had been storing in it were excess junk anyway - and it is coming together so well, and freeing up so much space! Which is really important because I have limited space to begin with. I'm actually a little giddy when I think of it. One of the next things I need to do is collect up all the bits of metal I had which I envisioned using for projects or to have plants climb up etc. Those artistic endeavours are not going to happen any time soon, and I'm not even into the idea so much any more, so will gather together for someone who collects scrap metal. Yay - freedom!

LaLennoxa Sounds like you are cleaning more than just the garden, that kind of big cleaning always makes me feel good. We've got an ugly, rotting fence along the back that needs to go and your description of your shed makes me think of it. Maybe this year will be the year. Its an eyesore.

More space is always a reason to cheer. I've used up all of mine.

I just came in after 6 hours of thinning. I was still sore from last time but it was not too bad because I was able to sit down crosslegged and scoot myself from one section to the next pulling volunteers coming up. If I just concentrate on one area at a time its not so daunting and I find the monotony kind of relaxing, it clears the cobwebs. I decided to get rid of the annual Lazy Daisy's because they seed too aggressively which is kind of sad because they are just starting to bloom. Blackfoot Daisy is a better low growing white flowering choice plus its perennial which naturalizes about just the right amount so I will still have white flowers and don't need the Lazy Daisy's. The perennial BFD's actually bloom longer (all summer) than the annual L.D's and smells good too. I discovered some baby perennials from seed I must have sown (?) coming up under the thick and fast growing Lazy Daisy foliage which was kind of exciting making the activity feel like an exploration. They would have gotten smothered out otherwise.

Texasranger2 - I have on older rotting back fence too! Shared with the back neighbour. We have been talking about getting it replaced for the last 5 years. The first few years we mutually were holding off to squeeze the last few years out of it. Then I was out of work for a bit, so it wasn't happening then. Then, when I was working again, she said she was ready to do it...but wanted me to do all the leg work to find a person/company to do it. And it was frustrating because I knew how difficult it had been previously to find the person who did my roof (basically, workers are in such high demand here and half the time they never return calls - even when they come to measure for quotes, they don't follow up with a quote!), And was I ever right - it was the same nonsense. By the time I found someone who could do my deck and the fence, it was six months later, I reached out and no response. Then I saw she posted the house for sale and I was like DAMMMMNNNNNN! Missed my window of opportunity. So I only ended up doing the deck. As it turns out, she didn't get a buyer last fall, but I get the feeling she has checked out and is not into sharing a fence cost. But she seems to be never around any more to ask, and doesn't respond to emails. Anyway, the good news is I have a good worker who did a fantastic job on the deck, so at least I found that much. In the meantime I get to spend my days looking at that ugly fence.