Today I had to move a couple of shrubs. It’s in preparation for the concrete slab that’s being laid next week, ready for the office. They were both in the way.
I battled the weather as I laboured away, dodging sudden showers and constantly washing mud off myself.
The first shrub had to be moved. It was the Mexican orange blossom that was sitting alongside the path – on the first bend. Mirinda figured it would be happy enough in the ex-nettle patch down the back.
I took the fork and shovel out and started digging a massive hole, expecting a large root ball. As it turned out, I dug it twice as deep as it needed to be. This is usually what happens. Still, it’s better to make it too big.
The hole prepared (not forgetting the chicken manure), I then started excavating the shrub. Given the rain we’ve had this year, the ground was nice and soft around it and it came up quite easily.
All in all, the Mexican orange blossom was relatively easy going and now looks at home up the back of the garden.
The transplanted plant
The other shrub was not so easily extracted.
I’m fairly certain this shrub has been in its little concave bowl for about 50 years. Cutting back the branches wasn’t so bad but when it came time to dig the base out, the going was decidedly tough. It was as if the roots had a defiant grip on the earth and refused to let go. It seriously did not want to go!
I ended up having to dig a trench right around it and trying to lift it from below. My fork suffered a bit of wood splintering fatigue as I tried to lever it out. I had to finish the job with the spade.
And FINALLY it came out, leaving a gaping hole. I felt like a dentist doing root canal work with a pair of multi-grips while wearing ice skates.
I stood and surveyed my work, satisfied with the toil and strife, as the rain started for the millionth time. And I was happy.
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I’ve managed to clip Mirinda’s sections out of two radio interviews. They should open in a new window when you click the links below:
Hopefully you’ll be able to hear them okay.
Wow!! that was very good and most interesting we agree
with you and we are very proud of her. more so now we have
heard her.
love mum
Hope you didn’t let the chicken manure touch the roots. They’ll burn, baby, burn!
Oh, Bridget! Of course not. Bottom of hole, chicken manure and water then a layer of dirt before putting plant in. And it’s doing very well. For the moment…anyway!