Does anyone know anything about gardening?

FWIW I planted a pear tree a few years ago in the wrong (warm) month. Made sure it was watered and it is still going strong.

Yay!

Soak well (pointless wetting the top inch of surface) and then mulch.

The Saga of @mashton 's Apple Tree could run and run.

I hope my momentary pessimism is misplaced.

You need to strike a balance between it getting enough water that it sets root but also that it doesn't get used to easy water. You want the root system to go deep into the soil for the long term benefit of the tree.

Early morning allotment watering trip on the way in to work.

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Top job - looking great

Drainage - how well does your soil drain mashton ?
And did you chuck a good load of organic (rough compost) material in the planting hole and a dressing of bonemeal ?

I'm sure I also remember reading that when planting trees it's best to dig a square hole rather than a round one as it encourages the roots head outwards rather than circle the edges.

#pray4mashtonstree

Ooh, very neat

Veggies etc going great guns now I have surreptitiously dealt with the result of my wife's companion planting ideas along with her refusal to weed. Courgettes coming on nicely. Toms likewise. Harvesting beetroot already + kale. Already had all the redcurrants and just waiting on the goosegogs and blueberries. Beans finally looking healthy.

Nematodes are great. Nary a slimy bastard in sight.

Apple Tree Info.

I soaked the root ball over night in a bucket of water.

I watered the hole I dug, so that I put the roots into a deep wet puddle then filled in the hole with soil. I then watered well from above.

Tonight, after the heat of today I will do a slow soak water again.

Mulching seems like a good idea. What with?

organic (rough compost) material [as not4sale suggests]?

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=539

At the weekend I transplanted an unwieldy broad bean plant that was starting to block out the light from the back garden to the front garden It's now wilting badly so I think I've probably killed it. These things happen.

Now it's getting silly.

I didn't have any manure, compost or bonemeal.

My soil is well drained.

There are worms.

Read the post. I'm espalliering it..

nice typo ^^
worms in your soul though, i'd be visiting a shaman quick smart
:-)

Fixed, thanks.

shame
i liked it better first time round

Just for you, there are WORMS IN MY SOUL!

Yep already in.

Once the tree is happy and established, I'm chopping it down to the level of the first tier, then will train that out, before growing up to the next tier. Looking at 4 years I think, in total.

Sounds good, although I'll probably prune higher leaders to keep it in check.

That's good to know about the nematodes, might have to try out. I don't think the slugs have been as ferocious as last year.

...wtf even is this beetroot? Elephant man variety

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Redcurrants galore. Yay!

Blackcurrants, Blueberries, Raspberries & Gooseberries not far behind. Woot!

Who knows about lawns?

My garden is really muddy in the winter, then baked solid in the summer. I think it's clay - I've heard it described as 'London soil', but I don't know what that is. A lawn / turf will not grow there.

I know that the way to make the grass grow is to remove 6 inches of soil, and replace it with new topsoil. I cannot do this, terrraced house, no way to carry it out etc.

Will rotovating it to death before laying grass help? If I mix some sand in (I can carry this through the house in bags) aid? Any help much appreciated

Lovely sprinkled on some vanilla custard!