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Plant ID Resources??

NorthernJoeNorthernJoe Posts: 660
in Problem solving
We've moved into a new house with a big garden needing work. There's a lot of medium to large shrubs that's not really looking like they're doing well. Before we get drastic I'd like to make sure I know what the plants are, type rather than exact variety. I'm kind of a newbie with experience if that makes sense. I used to know a lot but haven't used the knowledge since I was young and helping my dad in the family house. 20 years with just a backyard I lost interest and didn't keep the knowledge up.

So now I need to remember the plants I need help. Ideal would be an easy online id guide or app. If not is there any book you would recommend to help me ID the species and thus get the needs of the plants. It may be a bit of TLC could recover these unspectacular shrubs and plants. It's always good not to have to cut back to bare ground but to have mature plants to plant around. If that makes sense. It takes years for plants to get mature like some of these I've got. Better to save and we've then got a garden into which we add rather than needing to plant out then wait for the garden to grow into itself.

Not sure if that makes sense it does to me.

So any apps or online sites? If not one or two books to help me get the species. Enough ID to know what is worth saving and can be saved.

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    This site is a good resource. Most of us enjoy having a go at identification.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Agree with B3 .......... particularly @Silver surfer.........rarely caught on the hop with ID's :)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I've not found anywhere more helpful, user friendly or accurate than this forum.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Yes, please post photo's and we'll be more than happy to help.  If you could limit it to 4 or 5 photo's per post, that helps a lot to avoid confusion when answering. :)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    This site is more accurate than an app. In fact just guessing would be more accurate than a lot of those apps lol

    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    When charity shops are open again, see if you if you can get hold of a RHS Encyclopedia of Plants of Plants and Flowers, the more recent one the better.  Having said that, just looked and mine is the 5th Edition pub. in 2011. Has a large section on Trees and Shrubs with photos. The Hilliers book on Shrubs is also handy but doesn't go into so much detail. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Anna33Anna33 Posts: 316
    Agree this site is unrivalled for expertise in identifying plants, but I do also use an app which I find really helpful - it's called PlantNet. It is excellent, and has identified so many things for me. Of course, it's never going to be 100%, but it still has a very good hit rate.
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