I have written on my Calendar for Oct.1st next

Now that is what I call forward planning Diane...

Goodness Diane, I hope you don't have very many!

I put a 'like' on this, but not sure I would like the job of getting in all the plants for the winter. It takes me all my time to remember to get in anything semi-hardy! But that's what your calendar is for, how organised. I had to go to your profile to see which part of the country you were in to have to take these drastic steps and see you are Northants., only a skip away from Norfolk where I am, can it really be that much colder and wetter?

I have to say I admire your forethought, Diane. We have had a few nice days here in the past week and I have had some lovely hours out in the garden. My goodness, but the weeds appear as soon as things brighten up! I have been collecting up the herb robert, and discovering all the sycamore seedlings from the trees over the back wall!

I ache a bit from unaccustomed weeding too. Its just
the plants never looked so miserable in April before -
so I looked for a solution. See the ones from polytunnels
at Garden Centres looking so healthy and well.
Maybe more cloches would be easier overwinter Stera.
We must do something to preserve our collections.

Mine seem to survive on their own Diane (fingers crossed)
its every man for himself in our garden...

After spending a lot of money and collecting plants, I hate to get to this time of year and find them dead.
The wonderful long herbaceous border at Wisley is backed by a wall, the whole garden is sheltered with hundreds of trees.

Which ones die Diane? Most herbaceous perennials seem pretty hardy. perhaps you have some really special ones that are hard to resist!

No Stera, its this cold clay sub soil, and being very windy here. Years ago there was a windmill down the road.
I am growing organic vegetables in raised beds fortified with Gerbil litter and Fish, Blood and Bone granules.
If anyone is buying a house, tell them to stand guard day and night over the garden top soil, as the rogues pinch it to sell at £100 a load. The legal people should put a stop to it. No top soil no finalising money.

That's very good advice Diane. What crooks some people are.

It must be difficult gardening on those conditions - we have the wind here but the topsoil is OK.