Lovely front garden. I think it may have been better not to underplant with the lambs ears when the hedge was newly planted, so that the hedge could get its roots down and well established before fighting the competition.
If it were me, I would be inclined to take out all the lambs ears (you could always pot them up for a year or two if you wanted to keep them. Give the hedge a good long soaking and perhaps just a little trim on top to even out the growth and hope it survives.
Thanks all. Seems the prevailing view is to remove the lambs ears which I shall do soon. Will do a minor tidy prune now and some high quality organic compost topping in spring and hope for the best!
Step one of the job completed today, took all the lambs ears up - their roots had grown with serious rigour - thick and very deep. Lots of sweat pulling them up, way harder than I expected. Seems highly likely the ilex were being robbed of water and nutrients. Organic soil conditioner on its way. Will post back results next late spring!
Have you got somewhere else you can plant them @ddo101? Even in pots for a little while. I could see you had that nice formal area/bed in the front garden, but I think you've planted that up? They'd have been good there.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Have you got somewhere else you can plant them @ddo101? Even in pots for a little while. I could see you had that nice formal area/bed in the front garden, but I think you've planted that up? They'd have been good there.
Yes, moved a bunch to a border in the rear garden. The rest will be left to decompose. I've never seen so many earthworms. They were feasting. Unfortunately not much space in the centre bed
I thought I could see a bank of grasses in the bed in your later pic ! Glad you've got somewhere to put most of the rest. Hopefully your hedge will come away well too
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Well, update on my ilex challenge. After a promising spring, despite my best attempts, I think I've lost them. Did my best to keep watered during dry periods, but they've all dropped their leaves and look very very unwell. I've taken a few cuttings to check for life and whilst there is a bit of green and moisture in the stems, I'm thinking this might be a battle lost. Any other opinions? I might be able to nurse them back but I think it'll take a very long time if at all and will let the front garden down all the while. I think I'll take them out, test the soil, replace/top up as needed and put something a bit less fickle in. Anyone disagree?
Posts
If it were me, I would be inclined to take out all the lambs ears (you could always pot them up for a year or two if you wanted to keep them. Give the hedge a good long soaking and perhaps just a little trim on top to even out the growth and hope it survives.
late to the party and just echoes other people's comments.
P.S Never been able to delete an unsent post - is there a way anybody?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I could see you had that nice formal area/bed in the front garden, but I think you've planted that up? They'd have been good there.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Glad you've got somewhere to put most of the rest.
Hopefully your hedge will come away well too
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...