With the unpredictable weather wreaking havoc on my garden, I’ve been forced to get creative with my gardening strategies. I’ve affectionately dubbed my approach “home-sown” gardening, which is like “homegrown” but sounds more proper and British.
I’ve been trying to keep my small Hampshire garden as sustainable and low-cost as possible, which has proven to be quite the challenge. I’ve been tempted by all the fancy plants on the spring stock lists, but I’ve managed to resist (mostly) and stick to my home-sown philosophy.
One of my biggest struggles has been finding an affordable, water-based weatherproofing paint for my boundary fence. I’m thinking of just painting it with leftover tea, which is environmentally friendly and gives it a lovely antique look.
Despite the challenges, I’ve managed to create some rich compost from my composter (which is like a fancy word for a bin where you throw your organic waste). I’ve also built a makeshift cold frame to protect my delicate plants from frost, and it’s been surprisingly effective.
The weather has been all over the place, with winter delivering some sharp cold spells and unseasonably mild temperatures. My bearded irises got so confused that they started blooming in January instead of June. It was like they’d taken part in some sort of flower flash mob.
During the hard hoar frosts, I watched my almond tree like a protective mother, clutching my hands together in worry. And I’ve been checking on my autumn planted cuttings almost every day, giving them pep talks and encouraging them to grow.
Now that winter is finally over, it’s time to spring into action and tackle some easy, affordable gardening tasks. I’m thinking of starting a compost tea party, where we all get together and drink tea made from my organic compost (don’t worry, I’ll strain out the chunks). Or maybe I’ll just plant some more bearded irises and see what happens. Either way, I’m ready to get my hands dirty and make this garden of mine thrive.
