Garden stuff

[velvetpage]

sassy_fae and I took a look at my back garden. The prevalence of moss and the lines of the massive old tree in a neighbour's yard convinced both of us that only deep-shade plants will manage there. However, there is a hosta there that migrated from the backyard next door, set up shop, and is now (according to Jenn) reading to be divided into six or seven smaller hostas. Can anyone tell me if I should do that now, or wait until fall, or at some other time? I'm thinking a bag or two of topsoil, a few hours with a shovel, and the expertise of a friend, and I should have an entire row of pretty green hostas in my backyard.

There's also enough sun along the edge of the garage, at least in the spring before the tree fills out, to plant a strip of spring bulbs. I desperately want some spring bulbs next year - maybe even enough to get me off my duff in October to plant the darn things. :) I want daffodils and hyacinths and crocuses. I've already got lilies - they're growing along the back fence, untouched and loving it for as long as we've been here. I've also got a good-looking Rose of Sharon that just needs some pruning. Again, advice - do I prune it now, or wait until fall?

My composter needs some attention. I've never turned compost before, and don't really know how to go about it, but there's probably some black gold at the bottom of it from all the grass clippings Piet's put in there over the years. The top layer is corn husks from last summer. What do I do with this stuff?

Comments

Re: In case you didn't notice...

[catsarah.livejournal.com]

So long as the leaves aren't open too far, you can divide them any time in the spring. It's best to pull the entire clump that you want to divide up, wash away dirt, check out the roots and cut the divisions so they have good roots for each division. A clean sharp knife is more precise and kinder to the plant than a shovel.

I have many many many many (did I say many?) rose of sharon babies to donate O.o Takers?

And I wonder how easy it is to form alliances in settlers...or blockades so someone doesn't win ;3 MOi hhahahahah!

:D

Re: In case you didn't notice...

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Oh, we do that to Piet all the time. :)

I've got at least three Roses of Sharon in the backyard already, and only one of them is staying.

Re: In case you didn't notice...

[sassy-fae.livejournal.com]

I can see how a sharp knife would be more more precise! Anna (the ex MIL) had a lot of shade and huge front and back lawns. When she divided the huge hostas every few years, she was all day at it, even using the quicker shovel method.

Forming blockades and alliances is easy enough in Settlers, especially if someone is well into the lead! Bear in mind that blockading Erin earns her wrath. She usually plays to win, but at that point, she'll play for world domination :D