(1) Rain stopped play

Posted on 24 Sep, 2008 8 comments

Hi all, I was so looking forward to doing an Autumn clear up in the garden today but then the heavens opened..!

So, here is my first blog instead.

Gardening seems to have slowly crept up on me over the last year, before that I had no interest whatsoever.
It all started when I removed the only shrub we had from the rear garden last summer. My wife asked me what had happened to it, I felt guilty, went out to find a replacement and here I am 15 months later, the owner of at least 20 shrubs, 2 trees and a dozen grasses…LOL

This Malus was beautiful last Spring but by the summer it was so loaded with crab apples that the branches were literally touching the ground. It hadn’t been pruned in years.
I pruned it in November but got carried away and cut off all the branches. (it was then that I decided I needed to go and buy some gardening books)
When I cleared the branches I also managed to fill 14 full sized bin liners with crab apples….! no wonder the branches were so bowed.

This latest photo (taken today) is where I have got to 10 months down the line.
I have attempted to create a hedge down the centre of the lawn which is shared with our neighbour. I don’t know if it will work (only time will tell) it is a mix of Choisya, Weigela, Hypericum and Photinia. My wife loves grasses so I have put a mixture of them around the grass verge, along with an Abelia and a Clerondendrum to add a bit of colour.

The branches of the tree will take a while to regrow so I have planted a Chinese creeper at the base of it, as it grows up the trunk it should add a little bit of interest.

bye for now
Dale

Comments

Terratoonie

24 Sep, 2008

Interesting blog.
Please tell me more about the Chinese creeper.
Does it have a longer name?
It has pretty reddish leaves.
If ever my shrubs need a really drastic pruning job, I'll know who to ask.
Please bring 4 Sheltie assistants. :o)

Readejahn

24 Sep, 2008

I love your crab apple tree. Now that's what I call hard pruning! I like it that you plant what you like. You'll inevitably make the odd mistake if you don't read instructions, but you're going to have so much fun, and so much pleasure when you get it right.