The Genus Garden

Garden Excavations We’ve had a busy week at Genus HQ, not on large important projects, but on the smaller jobs that often get relegated to the bottom of the list. ...

Without invitation, Storm Dudley passed through the Genus garden last week.  ‘Only a broken pot’ or so we thought, until from the kitchen window we spotted the  top of our...

After raking out fallen branches and debris from under our recently renovated beech hedge (we gave it a serious short back, top, and sides) we decided to renew and freshen...

Lovely weather for the last few days has given us a great opportunity to get to work pruning the apple and pear trees in our orchard.  We deal with each...

Back in early December, 10:35 am on the 8th to be precise, we sowed four rows of broad beans in the Genus vegetable garden.  Through all the recent cold, freezing,...

Recent mulching activity at Genus HQ has left the compost heaps empty and ready to receive more material to use later this year.  One bay containing recently cut-back and uncomposted...

Searching for interest in the garden at this time of year can often be a challenge.  The early bulbs may be starting to show, the wonderful range of coloured and...

Last month we were busy weeding, cutting back perennials, and planting tulip bulbs in the flower garden.  With that work completed, the beds were ready for a mulch to be...

We recently started to fill the bird feeders that sit just outside the French doors at Genus HQ.  It didn’t take long for the local population to discover what we’d...

As gardeners we love it when plants behave, flower well, and appear to have read the book on good behaviour.  Maybe that salvia hard-pruned in late spring has flowered non-stop...

As you enter into the flower garden at Genus HQ you pass under a metal arch planted with a rose, clematis, and honeysuckle; a beautiful combination, scented, and often providing...

With a day of dry weather and our borders cut back, we found time to plant the tulip bulbs that had been awaiting this moment for over a month.  Robust...

Several freezing days made clearing the last remaining fallen leaves hard work.  Some were stuck together with the frost while others protected by hedging or evergreen shrubs were easy to...

For several days our mornings have been initiated by beautiful sunrises making early starts a joy.  The low sun casts long shadows across the orchard and the local dog fox...

After several hours collecting fallen leaves we found time to get onto the borders and start cutting back the withered annuals and perennials.  Plant supports we hadn’t seen for six...

With guests imminent this week we spent some time putting together a vase for the Genus dining table.  Despite being so late in the season and with frosts not far...

There was a change in the air this week with cold starts and artful spider webs adorned with pearls of dew.  The low morning sun often above the trees in...

The two greenhouses at Genus HQ received a bit of much needed attention this week. Due to their location next to a small copse, several sycamore branches overhang them and...

About five years ago we planted a hornbeam hedge on the front boundary that faces the lane and our neighbours opposite.  Regular mulching and irrigation in the early years meant...

With the imminent arrival of autumn we thought we’d better construct a new bin for the abundance of fallen leaves that we get here at Genus HQ.  The upright wooden posts...

At busy times of the year it’s easy for us to forget to enjoy our gardens and spend time simply sitting and looking.  Having done just that, we're happy to...