what Dove says about lilac applies to all those other bright coloured things in GCs and catalogues. You need some of those but a good solid evergreen background is a wonderful thing. For shelter (you and the wildlife) and a visual backdrop.
Yes, I agree it's laurel. I have a great big bush of it as you drive up to my cottage. It's massive in height and width and I wouldn't be without it at all. It provides much needed shelter for an acer I planted, and will also provide shelter from the freezing cold winters I get (NE Scotland). I lost a glorious acer a couple of years ago because I left it exposed to the elements where I used to live, so am having another go at growing one in front of this massive Laurel I have. I have only had to lop the laurel back a couple of times over the last 18 months or so, I don't find it too imposing, just cut back the odd new shoots that grow. They are very fleshy and so easy to cut through with secateurs. In spring, the laurel also produces lovely bunches of white sweet smelling flowers that are quite heady in scent some days, and at the moment it has plump green berry type things on. If you decide to get rid of your Laurel, I hope you don't live to regret it after
iv a large garden, with many other trees and bushes and shrubs for wildlife to live in, we not rushing to get rid of the laurel,, but strongly thinking about it,,,, if we cut it right back its going to just look brown and awful, we would like to put a shed where the laural is or even a pond which will provide a home for wildlife,,, i do care and love wildlife
Posts
what Dove says about lilac applies to all those other bright coloured things in GCs and catalogues. You need some of those but a good solid evergreen background is a wonderful thing. For shelter (you and the wildlife) and a visual backdrop.
Don't rush to demolish
In the sticks near Peterborough
Yes, I agree it's laurel. I have a great big bush of it as you drive up to my cottage. It's massive in height and width and I wouldn't be without it at all
. It provides much needed shelter for an acer I planted, and will also provide shelter from the freezing cold winters I get (NE Scotland). I lost a glorious acer a couple of years ago because I left it exposed to the elements where I used to live, so am having another go at growing one in front of this massive Laurel I have
. I have only had to lop the laurel back a couple of times over the last 18 months or so, I don't find it too imposing, just cut back the odd new shoots that grow. They are very fleshy and so easy to cut through with secateurs. In spring, the laurel also produces lovely bunches of white sweet smelling flowers that are quite heady in scent some days, and at the moment it has plump green berry type things on. If you decide to get rid of your Laurel, I hope you don't live to regret it after
iv a large garden, with many other trees and bushes and shrubs for wildlife to live in, we not rushing to get rid of the laurel,, but strongly thinking about it,,,, if we cut it right back its going to just look brown and awful, we would like to put a shed where the laural is or even a pond which will provide a home for wildlife,,, i do care and love wildlife