I can't do this until I do that

[Ananke]

Does anyone else suffer from this?

I have noticed that almost every job I want to do at the plot needs about 5 other jobs done first.

I want to plant my new pear tree. To do this I first need to take down a 4ft x 5ft raised bed where the tree is to be sited, to do that I have to build the frame of a bed where the first bed's soil will go into, to do that I need to lift the strawberries that are temporary planted in that area, to do that I need to have the strawberry bed made, to do that I need to buy weed matting.......

I think I just make jobs difficult.

[sammy_roser]

Yep! My whole garden is filled with I can't do this until I do that. But the jobs I have to do are ones I don't want to do/can't do by myself!

[VirginVegGrower]

Well if you do, you're not alone. I want to build beds at home, so first we have to fence across the end of the garage. Then I want sleeper raised beds so it blends with the rest of the sleepered terracing, which we will have to source and buy. The garage roof will run off the rainwater straight onto this area so we need to put up guttering, which means we will need to repaint the garage prior to. This area also had a rather old gnarled climbing rose, so that's had to be dug out first. All of this in one tiny area of the garden. Doesn't even make up for 5% of the area. I know some would class that as lucky but to be honest I'm drowning in jobs as is Mr VVG. We are both shattered.
I know how you feel

[veggiechicken]

The problem comes when the jobs go full circle so you can't do the last one because you know that the pear tree needs to go there.
Two days ago I had an apricot to plant, so cleared the ground of dead twigs and stuff and dug a hole, then realised that it was a bit shady because there were brambles growing into the nearby bushes, so cleared the brambles. Then realised that the bushes were actually small oak and beech trees, that would grow and shade the apricot (and I wouldn't have the heart to cut them down).
So I had to go through the same process of ground clearing. debrambling and digging a hole in a completely different place. Maybe I don't think long enough before plunging in

[Mikey]

You just have to start somewhere and work forward not backwards. Its always good to have a plan, and I can tell you I do love to draw a plan!!

I would say in your case you need some weed matting so you can build you strawberry bed. and get a big pot to put your pear in for now.

[Paulieb]

I know exactly what you mean.

For example yesterday I had the day off. Decided to empty the compost bins. Then didn't have anywhere to put the compost, so ended up turning over a bed and weeding out lots of couch grass before spreading it on top.

Not too bad, but these things are everywhere.

[Ananke]

I'm so glad it's not just me.

I think what I need to do right now is figure out how much longer the pear tree can sit bare rooted in my cellar, it has been in there since the beginning of Dec.

If it can sit there for another few weeks, I can do all those jobs no problem. If not, I can cut some corners by putting the strawbs into pots for now, digging over that bed then dumping the soil onto it without the wood frame.

If it can't wait that long then i'll just need to put the pear tree into a big tub until next winter. I hate all these temporary measures but time isn't on my side right now and i'll just need to pull up my big girl pants and deal with it

Ok tea break over, back to the grow box project.

[VirginVegGrower]

I'm so glad it's not just me.

I think what I need to do right now is figure out how much longer the pear tree can sit bare rooted in my cellar, it has been in there since the beginning of Dec.

If it can sit there for another few weeks, I can do all those jobs no problem. If not, I can cut some corners by putting the strawbs into pots for now, digging over that bed then dumping the soil onto it without the wood frame.

If it can't wait that long then i'll just need to put the pear tree into a big tub until next winter. I hate all these temporary measures but time isn't on my side right now and i'll just need to pull up my big girl pants and deal with it

Ok tea break over, back to the grow box project.

Plant it into a pot or trug of 50/50 compost and soil.

[Sarico]

i have almost the same problem... when i do a job in my garden i have to move something somewhere else but where they gonna go are other plants but those plants are happy where they are so i decided instead to build a frame so i can grow vertically but where i gonna put the frame there is the tomato frame so i have to modify that but if i do that i have to find a space for the tomato... at the end i realized that whatever i need to do in my garden i have to make sure i get an allotment....is so hard.

[Bigmallly]

Put the pear tree where the strawberry bed is gonna go....................that's just me being lazy.

[sammy_roser]

Well I arranged to go over to my dads to get the wood cut to edge the strawberries so I can put down the slate and then I can sort out the path ... and it's now going to snow apparently.

[Bigmallly]

Thats ok sammy, clear the snow, cut the wood, clear the snow, make the beds then clear the snow & put the slate down.......

[sammy_roser]

Thats ok sammy, clear the snow, cut the wood, clear the snow, make the beds then clear the snow & put the slate down.......

Hahaha! Yeah I'm not sure my health could take a day of working in the snow!

[zazen999]

I'd get your pear tree out of the cellar personally, and even if you don't plant it - get it into a bucket so that it is outside. I often store plants in their bags, make holes and pop in a bucket of water for the time being.

[SarzWix]

My entire life seems to be 'Can't do that until I've done this'! I seem to be constantly side-tracked into other things that need doing when doing a job, but you've got to start somewhere, so I just plunge in, and eventually the things get done