After yesterday's escapade I was far more cautious with TB. He was allowed off lead, but spent far more time restrained, particularly in the areas where game birds were more likely to be present. I also kept to the lanes, rather than allowing the dogs the freedom of the fields and woodland.
After a thankfully uneventful walk, the rest of the day was spent in the garden.
Job #1 was to repair the screening for our oil tank. The tank would be visible from the road, were it not for the row of thorny shrubs that grow in front of it. These are, or rather were, tied in to a flimsy trellis to keep them trained as a screen.
The winter gales have blown them down, and destroyed the trellis, so 30% and I set about a repair. The trellis was held in place by two 6' posts. These are still standing, although they are a little wobbly! I decided to use four 7' lengths of roofing lath to replace the trellis, and we soon had them screwed to the posts.*
It was then a case of considerably reducing the volume, and height of the shrubs, before we tied them back in to the new supports.
First job after lunch was to haul the prunings up to the orchard and dump them on the bonfire. I can report that they really were bloody spiky, penetrating my clothes and the thick leather gloves I had worn as a precaution.
After a coffee break, I gathered an axe, spade, chainsaw and wheelbarrow, and headed out on to the front lawn. It has been a couple of weeks since I last attacked the tree stump and root wad, as I have been focussed on getting the new gates treated with preservative oil.
It may seem odd, but I really enjoy the physical work of digging out the earth and sawing away the roots. It took a good few hours, but I can report that another square yard of lawn has been levelled. The turf has been relayed and grass seed has been scattered on the bare areas. The excavated earth has been piled up in the orchard, and will be reused, when we attempt to sort out the edging of the herbaceous border at the back of the house.
The only problem is that I was a little over enthusiastic with the chainsaw, and hit a stone, when attempting to saw through a root. It may be time for a new chain, or an hour spent sharpening the one on the saw.**
The messy stump root wad is now greatly reduced, and will only need one more assault before it is time to bring in the stump grinder.
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* I have my doubts about how long this repair will last, but the tank is screened, the drive looks a lot tidier, and we didn't spent too much time with this temporary fix.
** It is the original chain, and I have had the saw for more than fifteen years. Perhaps it's time to treat the saw?
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