@Pete.8 Thankyou that is helpful and reasurring advice. It's not the kind of job you tackle everyday. @robairdmacraignil I had never thought that there might suckers to grow on will take a look. I have kept it tightly pruned so I may not find any. Thankyou.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I have a few that I grew from wild-harvested seed. They germinated well and grew quite quickly. It might not be too expensive to start anew.
And what they do on TV programmes is never that simple at home. There are teams of heavy guys working unseen, with specialised equipment. What they show in 5 minutes actually needs to be started 12m ago, if they say that they say it very quickly.
My view only, but they look better, more delicate, not pruned. But if yours is 5ft, you are probably only talking about pruning out excess main stems.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I bought a deciduous azalea on the last day of Chelsea. It was a seedling of the colour I had been seeking but not finding by name. And a bargain.
It was 4 ft and looked manageable. When I came to collect it, the roots, wrapped in sacking, were some 3 ft in all directions. I had forgotten about roots and soil. They said, "can you manage?" I said, "yes easily."
I am quite strong, but thin, over 1m90, with a back prone to trouble. I carried it easily for some 200m, then had a rest on a waste bin, then another 150m, then 100. With my head buried in the deliciously scented flowers, it was quite a pleasure.
My car was parked the other side of Batterea Park. (Shows how long ago.) Crossing Chelsea Bridge it was very windy, all the flowers blew off. By this time I was making some 10m betwen rests. When I reached the car, the azalea and root wouldn't fit through the rear doors so I had a long fight to get it on the front seat.
When I have moved large plants in my garden, I have usually dragged them slowly. With pauses, sometimes of days. It is not a job to be undertaken lightly.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
So I started off with a wee furtle [love it!@Fairy Girl] there was one small area where the roots were poor. It had compensated that area by growing strongly in other directions including one strong root which was obviously going to be too long for the pot I nearly stopped and thought leave it be, but in the end I had to get the saw to the one root. I wanted to do it now rather than wait incase we have a repeat of a dry spring. I realised it was something I could do on my own with some patience and it wasn't quite as difficult as I had expected. There were some small stems developing at the base but no actual suckers. It has been planted in a mix of Soil based compost, multipurpose and grit. I have stood it on some bricks in a south west facing corner.
I can see how it may need a small stake when planted out which be well into next year. Also wondered if it needed some pruning as it does look a little large for the pot but I am reluctant as I like the shape. OH has descibed me as a tough old bird, how rude but it is probably due to years of gardening! I did finish up dragging the pot no way was I going to try and lift it. Sorry photo is on it's side but at least you can see it perhaps I should prune it?
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
i would leave it now for the winter.. It isn't gong to do any growing up top and the extra stems and tips will take any frosts. Prune in spring when you can see where any damage is.
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)."
I agree with @Obelixx. In the words of Paul McCartney- #Let it be....
Glad you got a result. They do make excellent multi stemmed specimens too, so if you want, at a later date, you can cut it back a good bit. It's already in that kind of habit.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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@robairdmacraignil I had never thought that there might suckers to grow on will take a look. I have kept it tightly pruned so I may not find any. Thankyou.
And what they do on TV programmes is never that simple at home. There are teams of heavy guys working unseen, with specialised equipment. What they show in 5 minutes actually needs to be started 12m ago, if they say that they say it very quickly.
My view only, but they look better, more delicate, not pruned. But if yours is 5ft, you are probably only talking about pruning out excess main stems.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I bought a deciduous azalea on the last day of Chelsea. It was a seedling of the colour I had been seeking but not finding by name. And a bargain.
It was 4 ft and looked manageable. When I came to collect it, the roots, wrapped in sacking, were some 3 ft in all directions. I had forgotten about roots and soil. They said, "can you manage?" I said, "yes easily."
I am quite strong, but thin, over 1m90, with a back prone to trouble. I carried it easily for some 200m, then had a rest on a waste bin, then another 150m, then 100. With my head buried in the deliciously scented flowers, it was quite a pleasure.
My car was parked the other side of Batterea Park. (Shows how long ago.) Crossing Chelsea Bridge it was very windy, all the flowers blew off. By this time I was making some 10m betwen rests. When I reached the car, the azalea and root wouldn't fit through the rear doors so I had a long fight to get it on the front seat.
When I have moved large plants in my garden, I have usually dragged them slowly. With pauses, sometimes of days. It is not a job to be undertaken lightly.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
It has been planted in a mix of Soil based compost, multipurpose and grit. I have stood it on some bricks in a south west facing corner.
I can see how it may need a small stake when planted out which be well into next year.
Also wondered if it needed some pruning as it does look a little large for the pot but I am reluctant as I like the shape. OH has descibed me as a tough old bird, how rude but it is probably due to years of gardening! I did finish up dragging the pot no way was I going to try and lift it.
Sorry photo is on it's side but at least you can see it perhaps I should prune it?
Glad you got a result. They do make excellent multi stemmed specimens too, so if you want, at a later date, you can cut it back a good bit. It's already in that kind of habit.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...