My garden looks a mess but I'm not cutting anything back for a few weeks yet. That said, the hedges have been tidied up before the birds start nesting in them and the rather large box (which, fingers crossed, remains healthy) has had a trim.
I've done selective perennials. The hosta leaves went in autumn when they turned to mush. The old hellebore leaves went about 6 weeks ago. I'm doing the epimediums this afternoon, and will start the ornamental grasses. I'll soon start doing the sedums as they are bone hardy.
I live in a bit of a frost pocket, so have to be careful what gets chopped when.
Bee x
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
@Bee witched Iv'e held back on the Epimediums I have known them to be damaged by frost. Will take a look again later nothing worse than cutting the new leaves and flowers by mistake.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
It also depends what people mean by cutting back. Some shrubs and climbers can be done without any problem, and old, dead foliage on perennials if there's new growth there, but the hardiness, or otherwise, of a plant is a factor, as well as location/climate. Many plants get some protection from old growth, so unless you're in a spot where you're highly unlikely to get any more wintery weather from now on, it's better to wait.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It’s very satisfying seeing it all done isn’t it, @Wrigs21. I have done some of mine. The old thalictrums stems were beginning to blow around so they’ve all been pulled. Plus I did some tidying in the herb garden, all the old anthemis and fennel stems. All the stems go in a pile behind the greenhouse, a (reasonably) out of sight spot, which I call my deconstructed insect hotel 🤣
I do need to get the ferns and Crocosmia done this weekend as they do tend to smother anything nearby
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
It’s very satisfying seeing it all done isn’t it, @Wrigs21. I have done some of mine. The old thalictrums stems were beginning to blow around so they’ve all been pulled. Plus I did some tidying in the herb garden, all the old anthemis and fennel stems. All the stems go in a pile behind the greenhouse, a (reasonably) out of sight spot, which I call my deconstructed insect hotel 🤣
I do need to get the ferns and Crocosmia done this weekend as they do tend to smother anything nearby
Yeah it was looking a right mess! Now to wait and see what’s made it and what hasn’t. Making some more changes this year with drought tolerant planting and two large Yuccas to put in
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The hosta leaves went in autumn when they turned to mush. The old hellebore leaves went about 6 weeks ago.
I'm doing the epimediums this afternoon, and will start the ornamental grasses.
I'll soon start doing the sedums as they are bone hardy.
I live in a bit of a frost pocket, so have to be careful what gets chopped when.
Bee x
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Some shrubs and climbers can be done without any problem, and old, dead foliage on perennials if there's new growth there, but the hardiness, or otherwise, of a plant is a factor, as well as location/climate.
Many plants get some protection from old growth, so unless you're in a spot where you're highly unlikely to get any more wintery weather from now on, it's better to wait.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I do need to get the ferns and Crocosmia done this weekend as they do tend to smother anything nearby
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham