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I think I need to get rid of these from my rockery - do you agree?

ren.bren.b Posts: 164
in Plants
Hi everyone
I used the app 'Picture This' to try and identify these 'shrubs' but I'm not sure it came up with the right answer this time - it said they were 'Japanese Holly' but when I looked online the leaf shape of mine is quite different to the more rounded 'shiny' leaf of the Japanese Holly.  It doesn't really matter what they are because I am going to get rid of them.
They have grown SO big and taking over the rockery (mainly because I didn't have a clue when or how to cut them back) -


when I started cutting back a section that was overflowing onto the drive I noticed how the branches behind were completely bare and the leaves were at the top end of the branch.

I feel really bad about letting them get this bad but I wouldn't have been able to even get out there and sort them out 'cos of my never ending health probs.  Couldn't find a gardener either.

So that's what it looks like after removing the lower part - I doubt they will recover - or will they?  I was thinking to use that space to plant some smaller more colourful plants that will reveal the big rocks we have in there. I have got some Acers on the other side but they die down in winter so wondering what I can put in there that is hardy, happy in a rockery.  It gets a nice amount of light and the soil is pretty good - lots of worms. I want some colour!

Would you get rid of them too?  Any and all suggestions welcome.
xx

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I had one of these once. It's a Hebe of some kind, but one that doesn't flower much, but as you suspect, Hebes do not take kindly to being cut hard back. They often die and certainly would look awful for ages even if they didn't! If they grow well for you though, there are some much prettier ones with coloured flowers and/or foliage to choose from. They aren't quite as hardy as the plain green ones, which means I can't grow them here, but they would probably be fine for you.
    There are some nice, small Berberis too, that make tidy domes of reddish/purple foliage - There's one, I know, called Bagatelle, but there are others too. They are hardy, can be trimmed and have small yellow flowers that contrast well with the foliage and are sweetly scented I believe, though I can't speak from experience as my sense of smell is very poor. The only downside is that they are rather prickly, but not a problem if you are careful. I have one of the larger ones and the leaves make a lovely contrast with all the greens at this time of year. I think there some that that will grow upright into a column too, for a change of shape as well :)
    If you remove the old ones and start with new smaller ones there will be lots of space in between for some colourful, rockery plants> I daren't look at the online offerings, I'm like a kid in a sweet shop!
    You could also try some other smaller shrubs. On my south facing rockery I have Rosemary, Hyssop, Purple sage and the curry plant, Helichrysum italicum, all of which are evergreen to some extent, can be trimmed (and used in the kitchen!). The first 3 also have blue flowers and bees like them. Perennial candytuft, Iberis sempervirens, has dark green, evergreen foliage and white flowers all summer and I also have sedum (Hylotelephium!) Matrona, whose dark red leaves would match well with a berberis :)in summer.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    They are indeed hebe and are unlikely to recover and grow at the size you need. I think rockery can mean very different things and if your space is small you need to research plants that won't go mad if you are unable to do constant trimming. I can't suggest anything because I don't have one, but I can see the problem. Hebe are lovely, but not for you in that situation!
  • ren.bren.b Posts: 164
    Buttercup days and Posy - THANK YOU !!  I thought it was a Hebe - I've got FOUR of them in that rockery planted by someone in a local nursery.  I just wanted reassurance that I was doing the right thing, I still feel guilty about leaving them like that but now I am more mobile and have slightly more knowledge I can learn from that mistake - AND now that I have you two backing me up I can tell my husband that two GW experts agree with me about digging them up - :).

    I will start looking at the plants you suggested Buttercup - different coloured foliage would be ideal - there is far too much green in their and if they flower it would be a bonus. xxxx
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @ren.b If you cut them down by half, into the old wood where there are no leaves it will take 18 months to two years before they really get going again and the leaves regrow. Sounds like some new plants! The soil will need some improving before you replant.
    Another plant you might like and you could repeat is Helianthemum.
    They might be difficult to dig out roots travel along just under the soil.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • ManderMander Posts: 349
    Definitely hebe. I had the same one in my garden when I bought my house and it was terribly straggly. I cut several bits off to see if I could propagate them just for fun, which was fairly successful. I have put the new ones in various places as a kind of mini hedge and dug the old one up. 
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