Thanks for all the clue everyone. My email notification for posts to the forum was not working so I didn't realise anyone had replied
Sorry - it looks like there may be more non grasses than grasses.
Anyway the question is still valid... I get the dogwoods - prune about now (5 & 6) but not entirely sure about 1-4 still. Maybe I should just leave them for a season and see what happens?
Anyway - off to visit the in-laws this weekend so will check back here on Monday.
Thanks again (any other tips gratefully received).......
#1 (stipa giganta) simply pull off/cut back last years stems with no need to cut hard back.
#2 (red hot poker) - This makes sense as I saw an old picture of the house on Google Street view and there were plenty of pokes dotted around (probably 5-6 years old image on SV) - I will just trim back any old winter damaged foliage.
#3 (Stipa tenuissimma) - I believe these can either be cut back to ground or more normally treated like an evergreen and just tidies up a little. I think I'll jyst leve them rather than cut them back hard.
#4 (Crocosmia or day lilly) - no pruning required. Just tidy and remove shoots if they spread to areas you don't want them. The small ones surrounding I will just leave and see what comes up...
#5 & 6 (dogwood) I think i will cut the smaller one back by 2/3 and the larger one by half way down the red stems to leave 2 or 3 buds and not cut into the older brown "trunks" - not really sure what I'm doing with these. I see conflicting reports about rejuvenating old un-pruned dogwood. Some people say don't do it because of disease risk.
If anyone thinks different (especially the older dogwood) then I would like to hear.
.... scroll down to No. 7. You'll be surprised at how much new growth you'll get this summer and how beautiful the long straight growths will look next winter once the leaves fall.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I don't think either are Westonbirt, I have that one and midwinter fire, neither look like those but colours if photos can be very skewed, not to mention the computer I'm on. I agree with the crocosmia and red hot pokers. I think Dogwoods are way too difficult to ID in a photo like that especially without leaves or flowers. Either way though you treat them the same, cut 'em hard back to a bud about six inches above ground or so and around now. I've already done mine and cuttings already grwoing. Can't throw them away.
Posts
Thanks for all the clue everyone. My email notification for posts to the forum was not working so I didn't realise anyone had replied
Sorry - it looks like there may be more non grasses than grasses.
Anyway the question is still valid... I get the dogwoods - prune about now (5 & 6) but not entirely sure about 1-4 still. Maybe I should just leave them for a season and see what happens?
Anyway - off to visit the in-laws this weekend so will check back here on Monday.
Thanks again (any other tips gratefully received).......
Paul
So... from what I have read I can on
#1 (stipa giganta) simply pull off/cut back last years stems with no need to cut hard back.
#2 (red hot poker) - This makes sense as I saw an old picture of the house on Google Street view and there were plenty of pokes dotted around (probably 5-6 years old image on SV) - I will just trim back any old winter damaged foliage.
#3 (Stipa tenuissimma) - I believe these can either be cut back to ground or more normally treated like an evergreen and just tidies up a little. I think I'll jyst leve them rather than cut them back hard.
#4 (Crocosmia or day lilly) - no pruning required. Just tidy and remove shoots if they spread to areas you don't want them. The small ones surrounding I will just leave and see what comes up...
#5 & 6 (dogwood) I think i will cut the smaller one back by 2/3 and the larger one by half way down the red stems to leave 2 or 3 buds and not cut into the older brown "trunks" - not really sure what I'm doing with these. I see conflicting reports about rejuvenating old un-pruned dogwood. Some people say don't do it because of disease risk.
If anyone thinks different (especially the older dogwood) then I would like to hear.
Thanks to everyone for the help....
Paul
I would cut the dogwoods right back as shown here http://gardeningmags.net-genie.co.uk/this-week/To_Do/443002/10_jobs_to_do_this_week.html and top dress with a sprinkling of Fish Blood and Bone.
.... scroll down to No. 7. You'll be surprised at how much new growth you'll get this summer and how beautiful the long straight growths will look next winter once the leaves fall.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I don't think either are Westonbirt, I have that one and midwinter fire, neither look like those but colours if photos can be very skewed, not to mention the computer I'm on. I agree with the crocosmia and red hot pokers. I think Dogwoods are way too difficult to ID in a photo like that especially without leaves or flowers. Either way though you treat them the same, cut 'em hard back to a bud about six inches above ground or so and around now. I've already done mine and cuttings already grwoing. Can't throw them away.
Cool..... I will do that.
Thanks so much.
I haven't cut mine. when I've got the worst of the weeds out I'm going to layer them to make a big patch
In the sticks near Peterborough