I'm dithering as usual about part of my shady border. It has a Viburnum Bodnantese Dawn in it which must be about 20 years old and has not flowered for years - I've tried remedial pruning, feeding etc but I think it is just past it and needs to come out. If I can get the wretched thing out - stump and all - I'm contemplating moving my tree peony to that spot, as although it is quite happy where it is, it leans towards the sun and shades out everything underneath it when in full leaf. I think it would be happy there as its head would be in the sun. Do they sulk like herbaceous peonies when moved?
I should also probably dig up a lot of the established perennials in that border, divide and replant them so that they sit more comfortably together - all a bit jumbled height and colour wise at the moment and I might be able to eradicate the montbretia that is taking over. But oh, it's cold and raining.
I must dig out all the Vinca minor that is taking over the end of my big herbaceous border and smothering plants that are in there. I never planted it in the first place - don't know where it came from! Have another unplanted patch under a conifer, it can stay there.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I.d like to rip out the lleylandi hedge planted opposite us,now about 8ft and never prunned,dropped big hints about it,may have to be more direct,but don,t want to fall out with neighbours......oh dear
I've stopped dithering. This weekend I chopped the hated shrub down. Couldn't get the stump to budge so will just have to keep pruning off any shoots until it gives up - my usual method, garden's full of stumps in various stages of decay - moved a clematis that had been growing next to it, have potted that up for the mo while I decide on an eventual home for it. Dug a big hole. Filled it with lovely leaf mould and compost and transplanted the tree peony. Hurrah. Tree peony seems to be okay - going dormant soon anyway but hasn't immediately dropped all leaves in a fit of pique so hopefully will like its new home. Do wish that whatever keeps digging holes in any patch of bare soil would stop doing it though! went out yesterday and it had nearly excavated the tree peony. Suspect it's a fox, probably looking for worms.
Still have all those perennials to divide........but I have about a ton of leaves to sweep up first
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I'm dithering as usual about part of my shady border. It has a Viburnum Bodnantese Dawn in it which must be about 20 years old and has not flowered for years - I've tried remedial pruning, feeding etc but I think it is just past it and needs to come out. If I can get the wretched thing out - stump and all - I'm contemplating moving my tree peony to that spot, as although it is quite happy where it is, it leans towards the sun and shades out everything underneath it when in full leaf. I think it would be happy there as its head would be in the sun. Do they sulk like herbaceous peonies when moved?
I should also probably dig up a lot of the established perennials in that border, divide and replant them so that they sit more comfortably together - all a bit jumbled height and colour wise at the moment and I might be able to eradicate the montbretia that is taking over. But oh, it's cold and raining.
I must dig out all the Vinca minor that is taking over the end of my big herbaceous border and smothering plants that are in there. I never planted it in the first place - don't know where it came from! Have another unplanted patch under a conifer, it can stay there.
I.d like to rip out the lleylandi hedge planted opposite us,now about 8ft and never prunned,dropped big hints about it,may have to be more direct,but don,t want to fall out with neighbours......oh dear
I've stopped dithering. This weekend I chopped the hated shrub down. Couldn't get the stump to budge so will just have to keep pruning off any shoots until it gives up - my usual method, garden's full of stumps in various stages of decay - moved a clematis that had been growing next to it, have potted that up for the mo while I decide on an eventual home for it. Dug a big hole. Filled it with lovely leaf mould and compost and transplanted the tree peony. Hurrah. Tree peony seems to be okay - going dormant soon anyway but hasn't immediately dropped all leaves in a fit of pique so hopefully will like its new home. Do wish that whatever keeps digging holes in any patch of bare soil would stop doing it though! went out yesterday and it had nearly excavated the tree peony. Suspect it's a fox, probably looking for worms.
Still have all those perennials to divide........but I have about a ton of leaves to sweep up first
yes... it has left one this morning, the rascal
I'm having a really satisfying time ripping out ivy. It's a bit like stripping wallpaper - you rejoice when a really long bit comes out!