My dad initially came round this morning to prune our three grapevines , we have two vines of the "chasselat" species and a third whose fruit looks like Italian grape.

The one that climbs up the wall of the barn is in a bad shape and also too high to be sprayed properly , so last year we decided to "marcoter" a side shoot.

This consists of pushing a shoot from the main plant into the ground and leaving it to root. Our plan worked and this afternoon we were able to cut down the big old vine.

We continued by pruning the rose bushes all around the garden, cutting back hard always above a bud facing outwards so the bush is 'opened' and allows the air to go through. Its best to avoid pruning the non-perpetual roses at the moment as they are blossoming on the stems from last year , prune them after the flowers have faded away.

Then it was the weeping willow's turn , it was dying when we moved in four years ago but with some tender care and lots of water coming from the pond it seems to have been resuscitated. Now we are trying to give it a more rounded shape which means every year it gets a major trim as soon as it starts to make its leaves , its a bit heart breaking but its worth it.

Since we had the chainsaw , Mark got to cut another big chunk out of the old plum tree. My father would like to push it down but it is still alive and with the flowers on it currently the bees love it.

We finished the day with the fig tree , one of its branches was really in the way especially when it is covered with fruit and I kept banging my head on it.

Mark will have plenty of fuel to make a massive bonfire tomorrow.