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Moved house....need help identifying plants already in situ please!

Cara7Cara7 Posts: 9
in Plants
hi all,

Since finally managing to buy our first home I have developed an enthusiasm for gardening. I really look forward to GW magazine every month. However, my knowledge and where to look for help is letting me down 🙂

we have taken over a garden that became unmanageable for the previous elderly owner and unfortunately all of the beds have been covered in stones which I am gradually moving. However, there are a few lovely shrubs and a tree which I don’t want to get rid of but have no idea what they are or how to prune / care for them.

i am hoping someone might recognise them from my photos and be able to give me some advice . 

There is
1) a large evergreen bush
2) a small bush with orangey coloured leaves
3) a medium bush with thorns. Sometimes has red berries and leaves.

should I prune all three and does anyone recognise them?

i really appreciate any help.

thank you!
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Posts

  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    I think the first one is Elaeagnus but better qualified makes will know for sure. 
    Third one a Berberis?
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  • Cara7Cara7 Posts: 9
    Dave Humby said:
    I think the first one is Elaeagnus but better qualified makes will know for sure. 
    Third one a Berberis?
    Thank you! 🙂
  • Cara7Cara7 Posts: 9
    Freddies Dad said:
    1. Elaegnus submacrophylla
    2. Spirea japonica
    3. Not close enough pic. 
    Thank you! I can now look up how to care for them 🙂
    will try and get a better picture of the third one 👍
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    I too would go with Berberis for no. 3, but a closer shot when it's in leaf would be useful.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Eleagnus has tiny flowers in late autumn, insignificant to look at but with a lovely honey scent.   :)  You might find more references to it under its old name which is Eleagnus ebbingei.
    The Spiraea looks like one of the dwarf varieties like 'Goldflame', which grow to about a metre.
    I'd agree with deciduous Berberis, maybe thunbergii... time will tell!
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    3 is definitely a Berberis Thunbergii,  in the close up picture you can see the long thorns,  be careful when you prune it , it’s very sharp, I’ve got it round the oil tank, as the police suggested. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Cara7Cara7 Posts: 9
    DampGardenMan said:
    I too would go with Berberis for no. 3, but a closer shot when it's in leaf would be useful.
    Thank you!
  • Cara7Cara7 Posts: 9
    Liriodendron said:
    Eleagnus has tiny flowers in late autumn, insignificant to look at but with a lovely honey scent.   :)  You might find more references to it under its old name which is Eleagnus ebbingei.
    The Spiraea looks like one of the dwarf varieties like 'Goldflame', which grow to about a metre.
    I'd agree with deciduous Berberis, maybe thunbergii... time will tell!
    Thank you very much 🙂 I will look them all up. The spiraea is indeed about a metre high and goldflame certainly sums up the lovely colours!
  • Cara7Cara7 Posts: 9
    Lyn said:
    3 is definitely a Berberis Thunbergii,  in the close up picture you can see the long thorns,  be careful when you prune it , it’s very sharp, I’ve got it round the oil tank, as the police suggested. 
    Thank you! It’s good to know what they are so I can look up how to look after them. The thorns are definitely sharp, I hadn’t thought of it being a burglar deterant! 
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