Fixing the Dog-Fence..
Yippee! A proper gardening day, even though the winter sun is as weak as dishwater. Decided I should start the repairs on my hopeless dog-fence. It has to deter Pebbles from barging into next-door's property and barking rudely at the neighbours.
Lavatera :- This is a useful, functional woody shrub which seems to survive extreme neglect in my garden.
First I had to prepare the ground by weeding out the grasses. I worked for four hours. I pruned the woody Lavateras, digging out a couple that were past their use-by date. Took some cuttings - may not be the right time, but never mind. It's the species lilac flowered variety, really useful as a gap filler.
Then I rebuilt part of the stone wall - the shrub roots had been destabilising it. Found and fixed two large gaps in the fence. Weeded on and on - pulled out lots of chunky grass seedlings which were entwined in the netting.
Then I came to a rather large fence gap - Pebbles' barge-through antics had opened up a bigger section, and the wire netting was flattened firmly onto the ground. I didn't fix this bit - just prepared the ground, and released the netting. Looked at a couple of leaning posts I'd dug in, and decided enough was enough.
Part of the Dog Fence
Asked Non-Gardening Partner if he could help me. But he disappeared with the dogs. Humph.
Pebbles the Dog
Embarrassed...
Sulked a bit. When I'm tired I doubt my abilities to fix functional things in my garden. But hey! I must try, because Pebbles' boundary fence behaviour embarrasses me. She will not respond to the recall command.
Tuesday 30th June
Yesterday I spent one and a half hours digging out more grass clumps and releasing more of the old dog-fence netting. Parts are quite holey. Today I have a mantra : I can dig post holes. I can dig post holes. I can dig post holes...
Four hours later...
I certainly can. Four hours later - I've dug two really deep holes, found two suitable round posts, and stomped them in place. Straightened and strengthened a couple of others, removed the rotted ones. Fixed some holes in the old netting.
My post line is slightly zig-zaggy, but I don't care. Can only dig where there are no tree roots - that's my excuse!
Spent the last hour and a half encouraging the bonfire. Not the most energetic of fires, but, like me at the end of the day, doing its best.
I can dig post holes- Personal affirmation