We started watering the trees on Sunday. Each tree receives about 6.5 - 7 litres of water. Its applied to the tree. This is done my soaking the manure around each tree, which should then trickle down through the compost and soil and into the roots. The idea is that the manure acts as a mulch and retains and releases the water slowly to the trees. The water is applied in the evening as its getting cooler.
Its taking ages and is much harder than I expected it would be, as the hose pipe that was down at the orchard has holes in it and someone's nicked some of the attachments. The hose pipe has been down at the orchard for the past 3 years and now needs replacing. I probably won't leave the replacement on site again.
We wanted to ensure that each tree got an equal measure hence we had bought watering cans so we knew how much water each tree received. The watering can hold 6.5 - 7 litres and we may spill a little, while pouring it into the watering can.
My wife and the kids all helped and they seem to have enjoyed it. It was a hot evening and spraying water around is fun.
More manure has arrived. It's going to take a while to shift, I may even be a little fitter once its all been done.
Checked on the bees. All the bees are fine and I have lost 1 colony over the winter. The colony that I lost was the smallest, I had and in truth it was only 1 frame of bees, it should have been at least 3 frames to get through. They have taken some of the fondant down, but most of it is it on the top of the hive.
I was hoping to start putting the supers on to the hive this week, however I discovered some wax moth lave on the tops of the frames. I have started to burn a layer off the frames. Whist doing this I found more larvae. This was worrying and I think I may lose most of the wax and the bees may have to build more to hold the honey. I should also put some in the hives and do a Bailey comb change. Will let you know how the bees are. This work with the wax needs to be done as soon as possible.
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