At the start of the year, I purchased several bare root trees from the local supermarkets, the sort that you see in polythene bags at their entrance. Not having an area prepared for them, I potted them up into large shrub tubs and with the heatwave, have had then stood in shade for the last month. With a few days to spare, I have now started to create a orchard with these trees and also some fruit bush cuttings next to Orchard Cottage.
The root balls are more developed than I expected.
I know leaving apples on a juvenile trees, is not a good idea for it development, but it is fun to see.
The pots were watered in the hole and the water allowed to run through and create a puddle before they were removed and planted.
I cut a piece of old shading to wrap around each tree and tied loosely with twine. Cheaper than purpose made tree guards, to keep the rabbits and deer from gnawing at the trunks.
All of the fruit trees are in and fruit bushes are being added. It gives the orchard a very formal feel. I have also put some herb tubs in the centre of each section.
I need to dig a few more borders and add more fruit bushes, but as I want them to be dormant before I move them, there is no rush to dig out the additional borders.
While digging the holes for the orchard a few bottles appeared. The Eiffel Tower Lemonade, when I checked online was produced from 1910 to 1950. The other two jars are Brylcreem and what appears to be a Shippam’s paste jar.
The next job on the list was dead heading and saving seed. These poppies are full of seed and will be scattered later in the year.
I have setup some trestles in the shade. During the hottest parts of the day, I pot on some of the cuttings taken last year.
I lost my box plants last year to blight, but had some cuttings, just in case. These have rooted very well.
The laurels are also doIng well and were potted up as well as some rebus. The yews have also rooted, but I. shall give them another month.
Some of the potted standard roses that line the carpark were looking tired, so they all went to the work bench and had new compost added, there supports checked and then another feed and finally top dressed with some gravel.
The Old Vicarage B&B, Little Ouse 
Leave a comment