When a plant dies, it makes a planting opportunity or that is what I tell myself! I’ve been thinking for some time what to plant in the area we now have which was occupied by a Cotoneaster shrub.
Dead Cotoneaster.
Close up of dead Cotoneaster.
I could see, now that there are no leaves left, that the shrub is choked by weeds. I can see brambles and ivy plus a lot more that will all have to come out.
New space.
The space is quite large between the variegated laurel on the right to the hydrangea on the left. Pacing it out I think it is about 15ft wide by 7 or 8 ft deep.
New space looking right.
This part of the garden is in front of the ditch which separates the garden from the woodland. At the top, centre of this photo is a horse chestnut tree which is on the other side of the ditch in the woodland. I think a couple of branches must be removed so that more light will get through to the new planting.
New space looking left.
It was quite easy to cut the shrub down but it means that a bit of muscle will be needed to get the trunk plus roots out. I can cope with the bramble and ivy and anything else that has been growing through the Cotoneaster, but the Undergardener is still weak from his radio therapy, so I will get someone in to do the hard labour.
Yew seedling.
I also found a small shrub, which is a yew seedling, that has been happily growing behind the cotoneaster. This gave me the idea to transfer lots of other yew seedlings, which we have sprouting up round the garden, to make a yew hedge, to protect what is going to be planted in my new space, once the roots are out and the soil has been improved with lots of compost and leaf mould. It will also make us private once more from the old school house next door which is now a dwelling, which you can see in the previous photo.
Border by the greenhouse.
The other border that I would like to change is the one that runs down past the greenhouse towards the field next door. The greenhouse is on the back wall of the garage and is hidden in this photo. I quite like my garage but I would like to change the doors to ones similar to a pair of garage doors in Aurora that I seen while visiting. Trees and shrubs have grown rather large over the years and I think an overhaul is long overdue as the greenhouse is rather shaded now.
Change needed.
I will certainly keep my Miscanthus Silberfeder, but the Hypericum to the right can go as I’m always having to cut it back. To the left of the Miscanthus is a dark leaved Sambucus, nowhere near as good as S. Black Lace which is up by the pond, so this one can go. Beyond that is a blue conifer which is now far too tall, so is in for the chop. The birds have also given me a Cotoneaster horizontalis somewhere in the middle and that will be coming out too. This area will probably take us quite a few months next year, so please don’t expect an instant makeover!
I have ideas for how both these areas are going to be planted, but for the moment they are just ideas whizzing round my head, once I get pen and paper out and commit myself to sowing seed, taking cuttings and buying new plants, I will share the finished plan with you all. I like changes in the garden, it gives the old brain something to think about during the winter months. I can’t see us changing the layout of the garden, I like the different areas that we have, but borders eventually need redoing, don’t you think, as they become tired and need sorting to make them interesting once more.
A garden is never ‘done’ is it. But what would we do if it was? I like the opportunity of constant change.
I agree Jessica, we would have nothing to do if a garden was “finished”, Like you I like to have something in the pipeline, there is always somewhere that can be improved.
That’s the beauty of a garden isn’t it, the constant evolution. I do like the sound of a yew hedge, they were very popular with the Victorians. I’d love one.
I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with for the new border.xxx
I feel there is always room for improvement Dina, in my garden there is anyway! If I had known that we would get so many seedlings from our large yew bush in the back garden, I would have made yew hedges when we first moved here 25 yrs ago. I believe that as long as they are fed and watered in their first few years, they should grow quite quickly and I don’t want them too high anyway. I have a few at about 3 ft tall so I will just have to cross my fingers as I move them.
I have a nice empty bit to fill tomorrow.
Just need to remove the octopus claws of Bougainvillea first.
I wish you luck extracting your Bouganvillea Diana, it sounds as if it might be quite a job!
You’ve been busy! Funny how much space you can find when you start trimming back years of growth, and the change can be fun once you get through the work!
I just expanded a bed this fall after thinking about it for months. It’s also not a one weekend job, but progress is starting to become noticeable.
I’m looking forward to seeing what you add, and I like the hedge idea!
I was amazed Frank, at the size of the space that we found, considering it was just one shrub! The border will need a lot of work improving it before I can replant it, that will give me plenty of time to think about it.
Renewing borders is an exciting time, choosing new plants, searching the internet for the best plants, then finally planting them, we will both earn a sit down by the time we finish!
Oh have fun Pauline – well apart from the extracting brambles and ivy bit which no doubt will be a tug of war. I look forward to hearing more about your plans as they evolve.
I will Anna, and I will even enjoy pulling out the brambles and ivy, it is so satisfying when yards and yards come out at once, such simple pleasures!
Sounds like a pleasurable activity for winter, planning a new border. I sometimes realize I am trying to fit things around a certain plant or shrub and it suddenly dawns on me that precisely that plant or shrub is the problem and needs to go, opening up new possibilities! Have fun planning!
I will certainly have fun planning Cathy. The area where the cotoneaster died is almost planned in my head, but the other area has still to be sorted mentally and will have to wait until after Christmas now as there are far too many preparations to finish.
thanks for sharing your thinking process, Pauline. It’s interesting how the volunteer yew seedling gave you the idea for a yew hedge. I agree, borders have to be redone periodically and plants replaced. As Jessica said, a garden is never finished.
It’s a pleasure Catmint, I like thinking aloud! I feel there is always something that needs re-working in the garden, plants grow into each other, or too tall or wide. Making a border is like trying to make a 3 dimensional jigsaw, where nothing stays the same shape or size from one year to the next!
3 dimensional jigsaw is a good way of putting it.
Thanks Catmint!
Yes, I do agree, a garden is never finished; it changes for good and ill and needs renovation to keep it lively and interesting. The changes to my garden are nearly complete but not quite, which gives me a chance to think through how everything works together.
Changing borders keeps a garden up to date, sometimes a plant is too generous with its seed and then the border loses it’s original focus. Your changes are in an area much, much bigger than mine and I’m sure yours will look fantastic!