There is something noble about working outside in the pouring rain. Not that the sane would do so out of choice but with the the summer season rapidly approaching, and with many days already lost because of the wet April I have been forced to carry on regardless of the conditions. This week the timber for the new fence arrived. Doubly soaked by the rain and pressure treatment I laid it out in front of the farmhouse in the vain hope that it would dry out just a little should the skies clear. The previous day the holes for the fence posts had been dug with the aid of an iron bar and spade and over each one I had placed a paving stone to keep out water and prevent anyone fool enough to slosh over the lawn from having a nasty accident. Working along the meandering line of the fence - meandering for aesthetic reasons I hasten to add - I inserted each post in turn with a concrete boot and plumbed them as best I could. By the end of the day there was a nice collection of in situ pillars. When the concrete had gone off sufficiently I could notch the posts, fix the rails and finally attach the pales, four inches above ground level to allow plants space to spill out from under the fence and three inches below the top of the posts. This took several days during which the six uprights for the poolside pergola arrived so I took time out to put these in position ready for the forthcoming surrounding paving.

The fence now makes a screen along the length of the garden separating it from the swimming pool. Guests use the pool and often spill onto the lawn at inconvenient times. Hopefully the presence of the fence will discourage this, especially as the pool is to the sunny side. Digging borders along the line of the fence was made more difficult by the degree to which the subsoil has been compacted over the years but I had an assistant and between us we managed to dig some two feet down. The topsoil could be recycled but we had to wheelbarrow out into the adjoining field a large quantity of very sour looking subsoil full of decayed granite. The beds should now be very rich thanks to the addition of well-rotted manure and chopped turf, as well as topsoil dug from beside the pool in laying the new pipes.

Clematis will be perfect to cover the fence because they like their roots kept in the shade. They can be planted in the shade and trained under and through the palings to the opposite side. For the first year annual climbers will provide some cover. Unfortunately only two of my eccremocarpus seeds have germinated this year but I did have a pleasant surprise to discover a good germination rate for cobaea, an annual climber I have never tried before, in fact I have only seen it in the picture on the seed packet! Unfortunately the seedlings, each two inches across, are overcrowded in the undersized pot used when sowing. In cases like this I am always wary about leaving them too long before pricking out. The temptation is to delay in order that as many seeds as possible can germinate but there is the everpresent risk of damping off.

Some of the mangetout are still to be sown outside, and this year I thought I would try some asparagus peas which are apparently good when eaten before they get too large. The pods don't look at all like conventional peas and are fed to livestock in some parts of scandinavia but the flavour is reputed to be excellent and the bonus is the scarlet blossom. I have delayed sowing the onion seed mainly because the soil has been so soggy, that is except for the Kelsae onions which were raised indoors and are now happily growing outside in their final position.

The greenhouse is bursting at the seams with young plants and I still haven't finished pricking out. Come to think of it I still haven't sown all this year's seeds! There are always some that get forgotten and new seed packets keep appearing from all quarters at this time of year. The cold frames are also full and it is now that I start taking risks by putting plants outside before they are fully hardened off and at the mercy of late frosts. A good policy is just to put a few of each type out so that in the event of a disaster there are plenty of replacements. If they do survive however there is the double bonus of extra space in the greenhouse and plants that have established outside at the earliest possible moment.

Ever the optimist I have a feeling we are in for a good summer. A break between the showers would be nice to get a little mowing in to give the place a pleasant cut grass summer smell, and a bit of sun to show the marvellous yellow fritillaria in the garden border at their best. Tomorrow I am off to pick up a plate compactor to prepare the ground for the paving around the new pergola. The new look garden is taking shape fast now - a new season a new project - and the last part will be the most satisfying of all.....planting up!

You can find more articles in the archive under Soiled Hands.

Adam would love to hear from you just email him