Mulch

Bit by bit, as we have pruned the olive trees and fed the leaves (and bark) to the sheep, we have cut the timber into logs for seasoning and the little bits have been put through the garden shredder and spread across the garden at the cottage. It is an attempt to keep down the weeds – a profusion of Bermuda Buttercups which I am thrilled to see described as invasive, noxious and pernicious.

The soil in this garden is desperately poor; a combination of dust and stones, lots and lots of stones, and when dry it can set like concrete. I am discovering that with this layer of mulched olive twigs I can once again use a Dutch hoe, which was impossible given the nature of the soil. We must just make sure to be extra careful not to chop off this year's new Mirabilis shoots beneath the layer of mulch when the plants begin to send them up.

The trailing daisies have been coming along nicely since I planted them nine months ago.