Responding to part 1, you can trim the laurel severely if you want, it will grow back even if you cut to old wood. However rather than end up with a green mound, I would see if you can turn it into a multi stem "tree" by removing all but the main stems from the lower 1/3. Then you'll be able to see underneath it and plant around the base of it, and it will look more attractive. That said, there are a million things more attractive than laurel, so I would probably remove it and plant something prettier like an Amelanchier, if the space calls for a large shrub or small tree.
The grassy stuff is Carex pendula: get rid of it, and be on the lookout for seedlings of it! The small shrub in the back appears to bev an evergreen Euonymus of some kind.
Thanks. I'm on the fence with it tbh - when it was just green I wasn't too taken by it, but now it's flowered I do quite like it, and the fragrance. I suspect removing it entirely would be quite some task. I suppose I could leave the stump, however, before doing that, I'm keen on the idea you have. When it comes to the pruning time I'll post again and do a sort of 'up the branches' type shot to see if I can identify the best bits for removal.
With your laurel - try taking off some of the foliage from the lower branches and gradually work up. That will let you see if the multi stemmed look suits it. It might not if it's just been cut back all over into a mound in the past, but it would let you see how it looks, and yes- doing a bit, and stepping back every so often, is the way to do it
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I've discovered the tree is a sycamore, which looks quite nice, but I think it's seeded the lawn!... The rest of this area is over crowded. It has my favourite, the white one with the amazing fragrance, a Viburnum X something. The rest I'm not so sure on - the stuff at the front - I'm guessing more of this bloody Carex junk right?
The stuff next to the tree, and front left, I think might do something interesting but I'm not sure. Yes, that's a nasty bramble around the base of the sycamore too
The red and green thing, left of middle, seems to be *everywhere* in Upminster where I live - most front gardens, parks etc!
Cherry laurel in the middle?
And from a slightly different perspective:
There's a lot going on in there, and some of it I think is lovely, it's just thinning out a bit me thinks.
Ha ha cheers It's number 2 so number 1 (age 4) is 'helping' lots in the garden (read trying to dig a hole in the middle of the lawn and chuck stuff everywhere! It's all good, better than TV!
With your laurel - try taking off some of the foliage from the lower branches and gradually work up. That will let you see if the multi stemmed look suits it. It might not if it's just been cut back all over into a mound in the past, but it would let you see how it looks, and yes- doing a bit, and stepping back every so often, is the way to do it
Cheers, when it's done flowering I'll give it a go. I foresee many many trips to the dump in our little Golf
It makes sense to go gradually with the cherry laurel pruning, as Fairy says the underlying shape might not be pleasing so make your decision as you go along.
Re the Carex, they spread by seed, these ones. So you don't have to panic too much, just make sure any flowers are removed before they set seed. They are quite handsome things really, so don't feel you need to rush to remove them until you have plants you want to replace them with. They can just hold space until you're ready.
Getting them out involves a mattock and brute force. You can spray them but you still need to remove the plants.
Unfortunately they seed insanely prodigiously and you may be dealing with unwanted seedlings for a few years!
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
@ChilliBob The red and green shrub is a Photinia. Left and central could be hypericum but hard to see from the photo .Yes more Carex and probably lots of seedlings will appear too. Sycamore also likes to seed about, easy to remove when small but you may have to do this each spring. Not sure what is in the centre of the bed could it be another laurel?
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
The shrub on the left of the last picture looks like Hypericum which can be pruned fairly hard. Sycamore seedlings are a real pain and need removing as soon as you see them.
Posts
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Area 3: Sycamore and friends!
I've discovered the tree is a sycamore, which looks quite nice, but I think it's seeded the lawn!... The rest of this area is over crowded. It has my favourite, the white one with the amazing fragrance, a Viburnum X something. The rest I'm not so sure on - the stuff at the front - I'm guessing more of this bloody Carex junk right?
The stuff next to the tree, and front left, I think might do something interesting but I'm not sure. Yes, that's a nasty bramble around the base of the sycamore too
The red and green thing, left of middle, seems to be *everywhere* in Upminster where I live - most front gardens, parks etc!
Cherry laurel in the middle?
And from a slightly different perspective:
There's a lot going on in there, and some of it I think is lovely, it's just thinning out a bit me thinks.
Re the Carex, they spread by seed, these ones. So you don't have to panic too much, just make sure any flowers are removed before they set seed. They are quite handsome things really, so don't feel you need to rush to remove them until you have plants you want to replace them with. They can just hold space until you're ready.
Getting them out involves a mattock and brute force. You can spray them but you still need to remove the plants.
Unfortunately they seed insanely prodigiously and you may be dealing with unwanted seedlings for a few years!