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Garrya worth saving?
landgirl100
Posts: 655
in Plants
I've just taken down a fence alongside my driveway and in front of it (north-facing) was a Garrya elliptica 'James Roof'. It was covered at the base with rampant shrubby honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata) which I have cut back hard and could remove completely. The Garrya is leaning at a strange angle and all the catkins are high up, almost out of sight. At the moment I am intending to replace the fence with another about 1 metre high. Any advice from the lovely people on here?
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I'd take it down to about 1m tall. give it a good mulch and a feed in Spring. Worth trying to save IMHO
I would also cut right down. It will never look great again at that height. If it was mine I would clear the bed completely and think of a new scheme. Looks like a lovely opportunity by your front gate to wow when you arrive home. Give the edge a sharp definition. Plant some spring bulbs, a couple of choice shrubs and some summer flowering perennials. Mulch for effect. Goforit.
The sight of a happy, well grown garrya is a sight to behold, laden with those gorgeous catkins. Well worth giving it a good hair cut and space to grow. Keep it trimmed back lightly each year to keep it in shape.The evergreen grey green leaves are attractive all year round and if you are lucky a blackbird may decide to nest in it.
If you like Garrya's, and I side with pansy
on this one, I would replace yours with a new one, after digging over, adding compost etc. This looks a tired patch and too poorly a specimen to bother with. A fresh young plant will be a better investment.
aw come on now pansyface: stop sitting on the fence: tell us what you really think. x