Perfect! You can be very pleased with that. It'll start to regenerate in the spring and when it begins to green up show us some more pics and we'll tell you if you need to do anything. As you say, clear the ivy and weeds etc from around the bottom ... I'd be tempted to plant some little native primroses and some snowdrops and little native-type daffodils next year around the foot of it to cheer you in the spring ... they're happy alongside hedgerows.
And what are you going to do with all that money you saved? 💰
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
For the ivy, yank out as much of it as you can, cut off any really thick branches as far down as you can get, and if you can pull or dig out any roots, so much the better. You won't get all the roots out because they'll be intertwined with the privet roots, so it will grow back. The two options are keep yanking every time you see it so it doesn't get out of control, or, in spring when the weather warms up and it's started growing back, carefully paint the leaves with a systemic weedkiller. I would go for glyphosate, in a formulation labelled "brushwood killer". You might have to keep applying it whenever you see new green growth coming, and you need to be careful applying it because it'll take out anything green.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Thanks Jenny and Dove, that's great to know. I think i'll try and get as much of it out by hand as I can then use the weed killer you've mentioned for new growth. And Dove yes what a great idea - I would love to underplant with some snowdrops/primroses etc. It looks a complete mess out the front at the moment as i've been so focused on the back, but over the next couple of years I hope to get it all looking in much better shape! Thanks again for all your advice - it really has helped so much!
I find I can keep on top of that sort of Ivy by a thorough manual sort out once a year or so. It doesn’t get rid of it totally but a little bit can look pretty with snowdrops etc 😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My parents have a privet hedge with ivy growing through it. It gets trimmed along with the privet. The ivy fills in the gaps in the privet at ground level.
That's a great job, so well done. Dove's suggestion of snowdrops and daffodils set me thinking. If you can clear a couple of spots within the ivy, then you could plonk in some pots of Tete'n'Tete daffs in bloom as soon as they are on sale, maybe just after Xmas. It would cheer up that space very well or how about a string of Xmas fairy lights through the branches nearer to Xmas if that's your thing?
A lot of shops still have bulbs in stock (and they might be reducing them to clear). It's not too late to plant them, if you spot a bargain, so if you have pots and compost you could plant your own for a bit of spring colour.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Lizzie funnily enough I actually wondered about Christmas lights so maybe I will do that!
And Jenny great idea on buying bulbs now - I'm going to do just that!
Side note: I have this morning ordered my new Rhino greenhouse as part of my garden refurb (instead of moving). It's a gigantic financial investment but I am so excited! Should be delivered in Jan which is when the work is also being carried out - looking forward to sharing pics on that thread!
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And what are you going to do with all that money you saved? 💰
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Dove's suggestion of snowdrops and daffodils set me thinking. If you can clear a couple of spots within the ivy, then you could plonk in some pots of Tete'n'Tete daffs in bloom as soon as they are on sale, maybe just after Xmas. It would cheer up that space very well or how about a string of Xmas fairy lights through the branches nearer to Xmas if that's your thing?
And Jenny great idea on buying bulbs now - I'm going to do just that!
Side note: I have this morning ordered my new Rhino greenhouse as part of my garden refurb (instead of moving). It's a gigantic financial investment but I am so excited! Should be delivered in Jan which is when the work is also being carried out - looking forward to sharing pics on that thread!