Yes - the three year approach would be better, and will still rejuvenate the shrub
Lovely plot - so definitely don't be shy of coming back and asking questions. It can be quite daunting if you aren't sure. Hard enough when you have experience
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Please forgive me for intruding on your thread, but does anyone have any experience with the 3-year plan with regards to skimmia japonica? I had a very leggy shrub with most leaves at the top of most of the branches, so I cut out 1/3 of the oldest branches a year ago and nothing has happened? At the same time I also re-located the shrub so maybe it is taking a long time to get used to its new surroundings and also grow some new shoots from the base?
@gondor - always best to start your own thread with an appropriate title which attracts the specialists. I suspect your skimmia is taking its time putting down new roots to sustain any future new growth. Keep it watered in dry spells, give it a feed of BF&B anf wait and see what happens next spring.
@scdettmer69 - agree, you have a lovely space and your philadelphus should respond well to the 3 year treatment. Finding a home or disguise for all those bins will help you see the rest of the space better and help you decide how you want to use it and thus how you want to proceed with making it your garden suited to your tastes and needs.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Skimmias rarely need much attention or pruning, so if it's leggy, it suggests it's been in the wrong site and is crowded by other planting. It will certainly be trying to re establish if it was moved at the same time. It would have been better to prune it back all over if it was being moved. Spring is the best time for doing that
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Cheers, again. Bins will eventually be at front of house, which is currently also a jungle! Thinking it will be a 5 year project. Or probably longer Need to put a swing in for 3 year old daughter, new fence, new terrace, new gate and so on and so on! Thinking of planting privet hedge to supplement the numerous hedges/ bushes that seem to live in the garden!!
A 3 yr old and a swing - the garden will have to take a back seat for a while
Enjoy it. It seems only yesterday I was watching mine play on their swing and in the sandpit. Now they're big ugly adults creating washing and eating too much
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
So true fairy, mine have got big uglies of their own now, and one of those has also got one of his own. I loved it when they were small playing in the garden, we had all the village kids come to us to play, at weekends we’d pile them all in an estate car and take them out on a NT family ticket. Good times.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Indeed @Lyn. Good times. I was an older mum, and it's unlikely they'll have their own children, but it doesn't matter. We had no money, and I was a stay at home mum [wouldn't have been worth my while working] Wouldn't trade it for anything
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Lovely plot - so definitely don't be shy of coming back and asking questions. It can be quite daunting if you aren't sure. Hard enough when you have experience
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@scdettmer69 - agree, you have a lovely space and your philadelphus should respond well to the 3 year treatment. Finding a home or disguise for all those bins will help you see the rest of the space better and help you decide how you want to use it and thus how you want to proceed with making it your garden suited to your tastes and needs.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Enjoy it. It seems only yesterday I was watching mine play on their swing and in the sandpit. Now they're big ugly adults creating washing and eating too much
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...