Plantsmans Diaries...An English Country Garden 5

It is hard to find much to say this time of years....but hopefully that will change in the coming month of March. Most of this selection is grunt work...but you might find something in here that tickles your fancy. i don't actually know what a fancy is but i suspect it's a euphemism for something smutty....
We are in the midst of storms Dudley and Eunice as I write this so i hope it gets out before the power goes off again....It was several days last time.
Best wishes to all...Malcolm

[@heidisider577]

Plantsman's Diaries vs. Gardener's World... Plantsman's Diaries wins every time! Amanda's cabin in the woods/she shed is gorgeous! Loved seeing a peek at the old nursery too. Thank you Malcolm!

[@alanbstard4]

this is why Malcolm should have his own tv show

[@georgiamccoy8616]

Anxiously waiting each episode. Loving the renovation of your Garden. Thanks for all the tips on EVERY subject. We love you in Tennessee USA. zone 6b -7. I have a woodland Garden and was amazed with your Blue Bell walk in the woods. Thanks for sharing REAL Garden narrative.

[@dc0145a]

I did just about wet my pants for that galvanized watering can. lol over here in America, those are quite cherished - at least in my area. Last time I visited England I had opportunity to spend a day @Sculthorpe Moor bird watching - lovely day. Added quite a few species to my life list.

[@cew9837]

Woo keep safe guys - the wind has died down in the south - but that's the calm before the ..... Jack Russell's are greedy little so and so's. Hate to comment Malcolm but you sounded so energised by being back in the potting shed again with the gang! Get well soon Clara .....Love the coast - could almost smell it.....

[@plantsmanscorner128]

That wasn’t the sea Claire….that was Amanda’s rancid old socks.

[@cew9837]

@@plantsmanscorner128 she'll wreak vengeance for that.. mind you her Frida tatt was ace (sarf london parlance)

[@1958pobs]

Condolences Amanda firstly, walking is a fantastic way to be melded with grief and loss, and you certainly found. A lot of treasure, truly wonderful 😊 when I feel the creeping loss feeling of my loved one’s I walk and stride out, and I always feel them with me, especially when I see something interesting, I can hear them commenting and loving it with me. Malcolm, loved this video and especially the comment about the knee pads and how they look, when they were the more normal part of your outfit, it did make me laugh. 😁 Oh and the pot tips and many other things you are Sharing, only years of experience can give you. It’s just lovely to have a visit with you. Loved your cabin thank you so much for sharing it with us.

[@annegowing9997]

Cheered me up no end. Thank you.

[@lenaolivetti9366]

Thank you both for taking the time to bring joy to me today!!!! Much needed

[@GrowBagUK]

I am liking the potting up on the angle...nice tip.

[@Nicktgrief]

I suspect those drinkers are old ones for chicks so they could drink but not drown or kick sawdust into the water ... nice find. they tend to be collected like galvanised watering cans by yuppies with loads of money and us poor gardeners and chicken keeper have to use plastic 🤔🤔

[@laurenb6451]

I LOVED the tips at the start about potting diagonally! Funny since I was just thinking about the annoying skinny spot to put in the potting mix yesterday but it was in round pots. Plus I loved everything else in the fastest 59:17 anywhere! It was nice to see Liz, and Amanda, hear Thomas, and everything, hoping Clara is OK! Amanda, your she shed is sweet. I don’t even watch GW or its affiliates any more. Boring. Looking forward to your workshop getting built and then learning more of your tricks of the trade.

[@stampinghippo7157]

Hello Malcolm, your garden looks better every episode. Not only is it a great joy to watch your videos, but I learned so much from you as well. Even by reading the comments here I´m learning some new things (btw I thought the same about the Oak plugs and the iron reaction, now we shall see). This frog in the Ivy would have scared me, but I think it is a birdfeeder?! And can you please tell me, why an employee at our big nursery told me to dig a square (!!!!) whole for the newly bought juniper and not a round one. HOW does a root know????? I can onliy imagine that this is a posh thing to do, because over the last 50 years I planted almost every plant in a round hole and it worked well. But I get your point with the alpines and the angle. Hope, Clara is doing better. And tell Amanda "Happy belated birthday" and I loved her quirky collection of bits and pieces in her "she-shed". I hope, the storms did not hit your corner of the world hard, stay safe, best wishes, Hanni.

[@franconianable]

Enjoying each upload. Love the intro.

[@spitrat202]

Love the Pink Panther-ish themed opening! Enjoyed every moment of this video. Thanks.

[@guinessparis1]

Malcolm Years ago used to play golf to a prettyy high standard . but always remember the 9th hole, a quick nip behind the bushes for quick pee ,always the best Black berries you could find, the only problem was who got there first to eat them ( in my case never bothered with washing then, its added to the flavour)

[@jameswswann]

I have a very vivid memory from my childhood. Watching Gardener's World (odd for a 10 year old) and seeing Bob Flowerdew carry two full watering cans of his own piss down the garden to pour on his compost heap. The urge to replicate has never left me since. The neighbours don't like it but you do end up with some lovely fertile compost. Anyway Malcolm, I was curious as to your foray into GW territory and I have to say that if you type into Google, "Gardeners World 21st April 2006" you appear in all your glory. I can only imagine how well telling people to use moss to propagate went down with Esther Rantzen on Points of View. All the best x

[@rovantigh3003]

36min 22seconds and keep watching for the moss roll.

[@BusyBeaver22]

Love the beach scene. Great to hear Thomas’ voice. Thank you for sharing your time with us

[@bfrommars]

Thanks for another great vid Malcolm, I am enjoying seeing your garden make over, I can't wait to see how it looks in the long run. Amanda your little cabin is so so beautiful, I love it.

[@1958pobs]

You just make me laugh so much, your poor wife 🤣😱🤣😱🤣 I don’t think I would leave you at home on your own, I thought you were going to break that bird water jar, and I’m wondering if you broke the plastic drainer in the sink when throwing it around.LOVED LOVED LOVED this episode Malcolm 🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@donkeim434]

That's a chicken waterer Malcolm! You tip it upside down in a bucket to fill

[@annmcdonald2442]

My chickens have a much bigger plastic waterer that works on the same principle as your little bird water. I love yours. Thanks for the tip about planting diagonally.

[@bencollyer2296]

Yes Malcolm I love your vids look forward to them always. Regarding your bird boxes I’ve been building some recently and thought of how to stop the woodpecker. Your after galvanised metal box lids only a £5 max for a load from screw fix they are used on T or through boxes metal conduit. They’re round with screw holes either end so what I do is fix the plate where your gonna drill the hole and using holesaws you can go through the metal and wood at the same time just file around edge so metal is not sharp

[@plantsmanscorner128]

Great advice Ben…..thank you very much. …I will remember that when I replace these crappy plastic ones…….Best wishes….Malcolm

[@myragooden8667]

Mail me the frog please. Your project is coming along beautifully.

[@PamsMountainGarden]

Thank you, Malcolm, for another charming vid. Balm for the soul. You look wonderful and the garden is shaping up. I can visualize the plan now. Funny thing, the bird waterer was sold in a fancy garden shop as a chipmunk waterer some years ago. The green toad is horrid!! Amanda’s little house is so perfect . Lovely thing to have such a sweet husband. I’ll ask mine to make me some bird boxes! Perhaps I’ll send you something charming as a thank you for the inspiration. I mean Christmas cake. Really.

[@brianturbefield1858]

Great stuff Malcolm. It seems you can turn your hand to anything. The wayout of your garden looks to be coming on fine. Looks similar to gardens of the 1920's and 30's from some of my books. What a lovely private place for Amanda in her garden. Lucky girl.Good to see her again.

[@waltermcphee3787]

Agree with you about the native plant numties, in forestry it has been a thing to only plant native species for years, woodland trust perversion. Not sure about the Oak plugs will the tannins in the Oak not go black/blue react with the iron.

[@plantsmanscorner128]

I don’t know Walter…never thought about that so it’ll be interesting to see what happens…I’ll give an update on them over time….one way or another! Best wishes….Malcolm

[@mariapascualy2598]

Loved the tour of the countryside the other day and now this! Great start to my day. Thanks Malcolm!

[@sunnygardner1246]

Amazing work! Soldier on.

[@patdelaney191]

I love to have wildlife in my garden, well, maybe not so much the squirrels. Little beggars keep digging up my tulip bulbs. But I love all the different birds that visit. The trouble is I never quite know where to place the boxes. The trees I've planted aren't growing quick enough 😁. Another great video 👍

[@backyardmechanic921]

One of the best videos you have done Thanks.

[@lyndaturner6686]

Really enjoyed watching your video , I got my fix of the country life I love , thanks for sharing.

[@alanbstard4]

alls looking good. Lovely light snow

[@razor2ts]

Another wonderful video thank you Malcolm. Amanda this is my home town ( Seaham ) the sea glass gets picked by thousands of people from out of the area every year. There's also a small beach near you called the secret beach, it's not easily found unless you know the area. Oh, there's also some steps just behind where you are on the Blast beach, it takes you along the tops, it's a lot easier than climbing the steep cliffs. If I'd bumped into to you while on a walk with my dog, I would of introduced myself & thanked you and the gang for these wonderful video's :-) :-) ps the dark sand is from the coal mining days.

[@gigi3242]

Thanks Malcolm; you've made so much progress with the garden.

[@TerryMatthews1]

Cracking on well with the garden Malcolm, it`s coming on a treat. Brilliant video as always. Thanks for sharing. :-)

[@helenwilliamson7099]

❤x, love the tat Amanda x, great vlog ❤

[@crazyflowerlady1060]

Wonderful helpful ideas. Thank-you

[@flowerfairy1950]

Always enjoyable, thank you.

[@nathanpickett7224]

My watching is sorted for tonight!

[@eileentarrant9876]

Wow I did enjoy that lovely to see some of the others ,your cabin’s great Amanda .I’m going to look for seaglass next time I get to the beach it’s lovely .The gardens looking amazing Malcom ,your getting a good start for summer with the steps .That Daphne has me thinking 🤔 I might get one I’ve got a small walled garden so it would be protected C U SOON XX

[@virginiancarolina8850]

Waiting patiently for the next episode. 😊

[@plantsmanscorner128]

I’ll have something out in a week or so Virginia…..been a bit under the weather and Amanda is in the USA for a few weeks….so I’ve lost my mate for a while as well. Anyway, I’ll put something together soon. 👨‍🌾……Spring is coming and there will be much more to talk about….not that I couldn’t drone on about nothing for hours. Best wishes….Malcolm

[@laurenb6451]

I would LOVE to hear you drone on endlessly but please take good care of yourself! I am rewatching all your old videos in the meantime. 💚💚💚Intro to Eggleston Hall Gardens from 9 years ago, for example…

[@williamgair3230]

Duck Filets ha ha ha.... just yesterday I was wondering why in tarnation lambchops cost $10 for two but at the pet store there is all of this "lamb and rice (etc.) dog food." I like lamb... how come my dog can get it but I can't? :)

[@eleanordumont3785]

Just found your videos fairly recently, am enjoying them so much.Thankyou Malcom please keep up the good work, and Really would have liked a piece of that Christmas cake after nearly 60yearsin the USA, a slice would go down very nicely.

[@virginiancarolina8850]

Malcolm, when you have time, please show us more about Conifers for the garden. Thank you

[@wendychandler8304]

That Thing is an old kitchen salt pot: somebody has made a hole in the bottom perhaps for a plant ?.

[@marymcandrew7667]

I think that frog might be Jeremy Fisher from Beatrix Potter, you put bird seed around him on the leaf and it looks like the hole in bottom is for a rod?

[@lenaolivetti9366]

Haven’t heard from Malcom.hope all is well…….

[@sheilaackers3854]

Malcom do you mix your own compost? if not is there a commercial brand you can recommend? Thanks. Glad to see you having a rest in your retirement! 😁😂

[@НадіяЄрмоленко-с7э]

Улыбнуло, что вы это назвали отдыхом на пенсии.

[@plantsmanscorner128]

I have never really used a commercial brand Sheila so I can’t give you an honest answer. I have used Keith Singletons compost for the past 25 years. He makes a range for local garden centres in the north near his base in Egremont, Cumbria…..but for us he makes a professional mix which is very expensive but is the life blood of good nursery stock. Most branded composts can be weak on nutrition over an extended period….that mean the NPK (basically a posh way of saying the balance of main chemicals) is not always in a form that is slow release in a quantity that is conducive to long term container growing (nursery stock)….when you have plants in containers over several seasons you don’t want them running out of nutrition. Slow release fertilisers are expensive but essential…..that is not to say you couldn’t overcome this with the addition of a little of your own. The second problem is what I’d call weight and substance…..very often branded composts are made up of cheap light substrates…..I like a percentage of sterilised loam for example rather than predominantly sawdust, bracken, coir or other bulking material, but this needs fine judging to avoid caking and help in keeping the compost open.Often you can start with a pot of compost and within two months or so it’s degraded and only half a pot remains….no good for us and it can be so light it blows away or drys out and is impossible to wet again (there are wetting agents). Containerising plants is not a natural environment for any plant, some adapt better than others. I would suggest you pay the extra and avoid the cheap 3 for a tenner or the like offers….probably well known brands like Levingtons but I can’t honestly say…..I personally would avoid multi purpose mixes….jacks of all trades and masters of none…HOWEVER! It depends what your using it for. If your just starting off a few vegetables or anything that’s not containerised for more than a few weeks I don’t think it really matters what you use to a great extent. Sorry I can’t be more exact on such an important subject…..i would buy the best you can afford for long term plantings. I will ask on the next video if people can recommend a compost from their own experience, maybe that will get some more reliable answers. ….Best wishes…Malcolm

[@Budreax]

Malcolm, Greg in Arkansas…a bit starved for your next video. Coming soon?

[@mariapascualy2598]

What brand is the trenching spade you used in this episode?

[@philmanray3903]

Your drinker is for baby chickens so they don't drown in the water

[@MDA-rs4uf]

Quit complaining Malcolm, everyone knows gardening is an art...Embrace the art without the cynicism....also be careful not to let the bird drinker freeze...

[@plantsmanscorner128]

Gardening is not an art MDA….it’s great fun if you enjoy it, but a chore if you don’t. While there are some arty farty bits if you want there to be, much of it is grunt work, repetitive and often over complicated by people that have an interest in making it complicated because they want to sell you a plant or a design or some secret tip that only certain people know. It has some high skill level aspects, but these can be taught. Like most things, if the interest is there the ability will follow along. Not so with the best musicians, artists, performers etc….these select few are born with the talent, the eye or the ear. You can put any groups of plants together and they will look good if grown well….if they don’t you just call it avant--garde or conceptual as that’ll cover any old shite…..As for the cynicism I wasn’t aware there was any….just a very large measure of world weariness. Best wishes…..Malcolm

[@philippevuillermoz1350]

Is a water filler Put flat / add water Put up again

[@marshmenne8657]

Don’t get into a pissing contest with GW. Sunniside is coming along quite nicely!

[@plantsmanscorner128]

I spent my teenage years watching gardeners world (despite Percy Thrower)….it was ok. But then along came Geoff Hamilton and Geoffrey Smith and it became great. They have always been hard acts to follow. For me personally, Countryfile suffers the same credibility or reality gap….it’s all too nice, to clean and too plastic for my taste. But I’m from a much rougher cut generation and we’ve had our time. I always found inspiration on rural matters from Jack Hargreaves in Out of Town. Again….different times. It’s amazing to think that many of the small rivers he fished in have since dried up or gone or become sewage dumps devoid of the wildlife that was once everyday. It is my hope we return to those days, but without the poverty, hard labour and a certain harshness of attitude. They were great times but had they’re harshness and bigotry. It would be good to think we could take the best of both worlds and make a new whole. ……very best wishes….Malcolm

[@marshmenne8657]

I think just about everyone that follows PC, finds your wit, your approach to life and the personnel totally wonderful. Thanks for providing enjoyment along with instruction.

[@bencollyer2296]

Malcolm I’m getting withdrawals what’s happening mate

[@plantsmanscorner128]

I’ll have something out in a week or so Ben…..been a bit under the weather and Amanda is in the USA for a few weeks….so I’ve lost my mate for a while as well. Anyway, I’ll put something together soon. 👨‍🌾

[@plantsmanscorner128]

I’ll have something out in a week or so Ben…..been a bit under the weather and Amanda is in the USA for a few weeks….so I’ve lost my mate for a while as well. Anyway, I’ll put something together soon. 👨‍🌾

[@bencollyer2296]

Apologies mate just look forward to each episode. I hope your partner in crime is enjoying herself and I wish you well mate