Have a look and see what it says about complete renovation and the time to do it. I’m in bed now and don’t want it to go and get the book😀. If I wake the cat up we’ll all be in trouble.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I agree it's usually better to take shrubs back completely, and they regenerate better. I think you could do a bit now @nickoslester93f3fKIn and then further in late winter/early spring, depending on what facilities you have for disposing of the cut branches etc. Even if you take a bit off just now, and then there's new growth which gets frosted, that will be removed in spring when you cut it back properly. It just depends on your climate as much as anything.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Emboldened - I just went for it. It was looking really messy and full of dead wood. So took it all down to a lo-ish framework. But not _too_ low as I want to underplant.
Well done, I don’t want to criticise but you could cut all the branches on an angle, the rain runs off better. Maybe remember for the other shrubs you’re regenerating. I’m sorry I didn’t mention that before.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
The other thing I'd do is to clear the ivy and any other planting from around the area of the philadelphus. That would apply to any other similar sites when you cut back any shrubs. The ivy in particular can prevent moisture getting in, which could have an effect on the planting you want to keep. You can then mulch the soil too, which will really help the soil structure, and autumn is a good time to do it, especially if you want to plant nearby. It depends on how wet it is where you are though. Good, consistent rainfall, will still get through. Is that the thug - Carex pendula, on the right of the picture? If so, that would be better removed. It can seed everywhere.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Looking good! If you wanted to spend a bit more time on it you could take the skinny branches off where they join a thick one, to thin it out a bit more. Not essential though. Otherwise when it starts sprouting new growth in spring, take of any dead snags back to just above the new growth.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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Think you've all managed to. I'm on it tomorrow!!
I’m in bed now and don’t want it to go and get the book😀. If I wake the cat up we’ll all be in trouble.
I think you could do a bit now @nickoslester93f3fKIn and then further in late winter/early spring, depending on what facilities you have for disposing of the cut branches etc.
Even if you take a bit off just now, and then there's new growth which gets frosted, that will be removed in spring when you cut it back properly. It just depends on your climate as much as anything.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
What do you think?
I’m sorry I didn’t mention that before.
It depends on how wet it is where you are though. Good, consistent rainfall, will still get through.
Is that the thug - Carex pendula, on the right of the picture? If so, that would be better removed. It can seed everywhere.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl ivy gone, thug gone (thank god for the borrowed mattock). Mulch tomorrow. Think I need some breakfast!