Old tree, hedge and hyrangea
Mary370
Posts: 2,003
Now that my back garden is more or less sorted, after 4 years, it's time to start working on the front.
Oops don't know why the first 2 are upside down, anyway, this is my front garden as you will see there is a rather large tree in the middle, a large old hydrangea and a hedge. The bark chipping in the corner is where I recently planted a honeysuckle, to grow up a trellis on the side of the house. The ground is very unlevel, see along bottom of house, and quite sloped down towards the hedge.
It has recently been sprayed with gysophlite or whatever, that's why it looks so bad.
Any ideas on how to 'work' this ground/area. Ideally I want to get rid of all the grass and lay bark, but what will grow and thrive in competition with the tree, hedge and hydrangea?
Any ideas/suggestions. Sun is in front most of the day, the only shade is from the tree.
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So it's southerly and judging by the plants that grow there, it's possibly a nice rich free draining neutral to slightly acidic soil? Let us know what styles you like and whether you want height to cover the wall or do you want plants quite low so not to obscure the view out from your property. Lots of prospects.
Borderline..........you really think it has lots of prospects? Just planting the honeysuckle was difficult due to the thick roots from the tree, but yes the soil appears to be very fertile and on the acidic side, as the hydrangea flowers turn blue without any additives.
Style......haha.......I don't really have one. My back garden is a riot of clashing colours, that's the reason why I would like to restrain myself and have a totally different front garden, filled with perennials, but only a few colours.
Some height to cover the wall but not more hedging, I love flowers, particularly scented ones. I would like to tie the planting colours with the colours of the hydrangea, shades of pink and blue. But already the honeysuckle is 'off' that colour palette.
I just bought a Rose Cornelia Shrub, but I have no idea where to place it, and a Miss Bateman Clematis, which is tiny, I will be potting it on until the Spring, I was thinking it might grow with the honeysuckle up the trellis.
I also intend attempting to grow a packet of the miniature Rosa chinensis var. minima 'Angel Rose'. I will also be sowing Nepeta grandiflora 'Border Ballet', which the bees adore.
Oh I don't know.............all input would be appreciated.
I would like to make it a beautiful space.
This is what it looked like last 18 months ago.........it resembled something which was left standing after a nuclear war.........as you can the tree is terrible when not in leaf
It actually pains me to be reminded of the butchering the hedge got, the hydrangea was also cut to the ground, but it regrew.
Last edited: 06 July 2017 17:19:12
Regarding the hedge. Is it the golden looking one that grew back? Do you know what it is? I can't see it properly as it's too far away. I'm assuming you have decided to keep it? Also do you know what is the tree in the middle?
This will help with what kind of plants to recommend. Sounds like there is a big root system under the grass.
I've got a breeze block wall in my front garden, and it looks a lot better just for being painted white!
If you are keeping the trees and shrubs, my suggested plant list will work with what you have there. In keeping with only around 3-4 colours, repeating the plants at intervals helps to build a theme. Pale pinks, light blues, lemon yellows and splashes of crimson. Summery and goes well with your new roses.
By the wall areas, Perovskia 'Blue Spire' the Russian sage will add height of around 1 meter or higher. This plant is light silvery blue and although tall, is very airy and will do a nice job of covering your wall but not completely blocking the view. In keeping with the pale blue theme and the nice silvery shimmer, Eryngiums of all kinds, the sea holly adds architecture and interest.
Sedums/Hylotelephium, Achilleas Terracotta, Geraniums Oxonianum 'Wargrave Pink', the cranesbill, Alchemilla Mollis, and Echinacea Purpurea are the mainstay of the planting areas. Try to plant in groups of threes to create an impact when seen from far. Or, plant in long lines or long curves. This gives a naturalistic look and makes the area seem less busy. Then dot-plant in gaps Knautia Macedonica, Macedonian Scabious to tie in all the pastel shades.
These plants are all very easy to maintain and once in, you can start thinking of bulbs for spring time, and maybe some more climbers to scramble through shrubs, grasses to add drama.
Last edited: 06 July 2017 22:53:15
I don't know what the hedge is, there seems to be 2 varieties there
I posted a photo of the tree on this forum and was told the it is a very stunted Oak!
Never even dawned on me to paint the wall.......added to the to-do-list.
Thanks for the advice and help
Last edited: 07 July 2017 08:50:10
Thanks for the extreme close-ups. I think you have some Ligustrum and the tree looks more like a Horse Chestnut to me. When you hacked into the tree, was it to control the size or was it just a shape you wanted. Longterm this tree seems to be a large tree if you don't prune it like you have done this winter. I ask because the shade the tree may cast in a few years' time. This may alter your planting scheme.
The plantings were here when I moved in, the neighbours said the old lady's sons regularly cut the tree down, I got someone to cut it last year as it had grown huge in the 3 years I was here, had to cut it as it was passed the upstairs bedroom windows and heading towards the electricity lines.
It's not my property, that's why I'm not removing the hedge or hydrangea, not that I would be removing the hydrangea as I love it. I have taken a couple of cuttings of it this year.
Is there anything I could grow up/through the tree to improve how it looks when it is bare? Although my sense is no as it would get no light when the tree is in leaf. Part of me is tempted to ask the owner if I could chop it down, but I'll have to wait until the hedge regrows, for some privacy.
Your hedge looked very healthy and I'm sure it will grow back quite quickly. Seems to like it there. I have seen many very unhappy looking hedges, especially privet ones recently.
For the tree, I understand you thinking that way, but it might be better to think about small climbers that might like to just scramble up the big trunk area rather than into the top branches. Since it is quite centred, depending on the angle of the sun, you can plant Tropaeolum Speciosum. Lovely interesting leaves and very eye catching flowers. I think this scrambling climber will look lovely smothering the trunk and surrounding floor area.
Last edited: 08 July 2017 12:00:31