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Pruning

rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
in Plants
I don't know why my wife has such an urge to CUT THINGS BACK, the moment she considers it ideal to go in the garden.

Today she is keen to cut back the Cornus and callicarpa.

The Cornus gets the haircut treatment regularly throughout the year, particularly just when it's about to blossom - thus deterring the very bees she says we need more of.

Sigh!!

How can I prevent her from pruning solely to keep plants small, yet encourage her to be out there?
Our previous neighbours had the same problem. He would keep the garden looking great, yet, when he went in for a snooze, his wife took the opportunity to get out there, and prune harshly, pull up flowers, and weed to the point of the place looking bare!!

We found it amusing, but my wife is doing the very same things!!

Thank you.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Hide the secateurs!!  Put signs up saying do not prune before flowering is over and decorate the signs with bees.

    Buy her a table and chair/lounger and distract her with a cuppa.
    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)."
    Plato
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Get her signed up to this forum!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    Obelixx said:
    Hide the secateurs!!  Put signs up saying do not prune before flowering is over and decorate the signs with bees.

    Buy her a table and chair/lounger and distract her with a cuppa.
    Mmm!! 

    I think hiding the secateurs is the answer, although she has a habit of finding things I don't want her to.

    That said, this afternoon she did offer to help, and I gave her specific instructions - basically, what NOT to do.
    I also made a suggestion on how she could help - then came in saying she couldn't find the hoe.

    However, I just went out to the conservatory, and note she HAS used the secateurs. I'll check the garden tomorrow.
    Sigh.
  • alexryzawlskiqBU-X4OFalexryzawlskiqBU-X4OF Posts: 163
    Sounds like a nightmare.
    Happy Gardening
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    tell her to get back into the kitchen where she belongs
    Devon.
  • CrankyYankeeCrankyYankee Posts: 504
    Can you give her part of the garden that's just for her?  A piece she can do whatever she wants to, and let her know you'll take care of the rest?  You could fill it with plants that love to be cut back and fussed over.
    My ex-husband and I each had our own garden areas, and we wouldn't dare do anything other than admire the other's. 
    New England, USA
    Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    Hostafan1 said:
    tell her to get back into the kitchen where she belongs
    Nice idea, but at 5ft 2in, she bites my kneecaps!!
  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    CrankyYankee said:
    Can you give her part of the garden that's just for her?  A piece she can do whatever she wants to, and let her know you'll take care of the rest?  You could fill it with plants that love to be cut back and fussed over.
    My ex-husband and I each had our own garden areas, and we wouldn't dare do anything other than admire the other's. 
    Possible. Great idea, in fact.
    She can have a few square feet. :D
  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    pansyface said:
    While she’s asleep insert her hands into a pair of boxing gloves and tie them on tightly.
    I like that one. Might have to get a pair of my own, though.
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