February 2010Succulents have been coming along well in their baskets, even with searing summer weather.
May 2010
Ordered as bare-rooted trees for delivery in July.
1 x Pomegranate, Punica granatum
July 2010
Changed plan to put pomegranate near front door, just in case we do end up putting in a front porch, and remembering electrician advice to reroute wiring for Septech system through that area, which would save us crawling under house in the middle of freezing nights with a torch when the Septech alarm goes off under our bedroom window!
Regardless of changed plans for pomegranate, am pleased to have amaryllis bulbs moved here, as some are starting to grow, and they look quite promising.
Succulent baskets looking a bit bedraggled now - unlike the flourishing ones near back door - so might consider whether (a) they've just outgrown their pots, (b) this is their winter look, or (c) they don't like these more exposed conditions. Either way, will move a few around to see if that helps.
December 2010
Succulents choofing along, and have moved potted geraniums to front step. Quite like the effect, but lucky no one except Bella actually uses the front steps and front door much!
New bed built beside house with bits of recycled corrie from the mullock heap.
January 2011
Summer clean up in the shed through up some happy surprises. Like the wrought iron planter now on the front porch...
and succulent baskets still doing well ...
April 2011
Not a lot to report. All growing. Succulents in baskets look lovely. Weeds growing in front of house, with vague plans to plant something along the base of the house - perhaps the agapanthus pieces passed on by Betty at linedancing. The new bed beside the house does it's own thing - the pigface is encroaching but that need not be a problem, and the grapes seem happy, though no progress as yet on a structure to train them on. So that's probably the priority in this area.
Here's mixing of soil, topsoil, compost and manure which was used to further fill the new bed along side of house before planting.
July 2011: 'Annual Report'
The area around front of house needed no ongoing maintenance, beyond looking after pots around front door and steps. However, intentions to create a pergola to screen west side of house from summer sun have advanced. The major challenge in this area was lack of suitable soil to plant into, given that the raised flat area beside house is compacted infill. The first step to improve this situation was to create a bed to plant into. This has been achieved, using starstakes and recycled corrie to create bed surrounds attached to existing raised area, filled with bought soil and some soil excavated when water tank was installed. Scoria from the site was used as a bed for drainage at the base of the bed. Lengths of pipe were cut and placed in the bed to facilitate watering deeper in the bed below mulch in future. The timing of this activity (following installation of tank) restricted what plants could be established. Two grapes were planted, as well as some tomatoes and succulents. Tomatoes are now spent, and other plants may be replaced if appropriate. Pigface from surrounding area has encroached on this bed, though it seems to do no harm, and has the benefit of being good fire retardant near house. Experimented with establishing some amaryllis in area near porch - however, this whole porch area will be rebuilt in future.
2011/2012 Maintenance Plan
- pots on steps/porch need occasional seasonal watering - recycled kitchen water (eg from washing vegetables) is good for this
- plants on steps/porch (pelargoniums, succulents) may need a little nipping back if getting straggly
- succulents may need to be moved if showing signs of burning or drying in summer - can go under porch for shade
- pelargoniums may need potting up to larger pots if show significant growth and outgrow current small pots
- if pergola has been established, plants may need seasonal watering while being established. Can be watered with diluted liquid from worm farm during mild spring and autumn periods.
- pigface needs to be trimmed back if it encroaches on Septech access - trimmings can go on longterm compost heap.
