Very new gardener, a few questions

Shoey1610

We have just bought our first house and are lucky enough to have a front and back garden. All the other front gardens in the street are very pretty and well kept and we would like the same sort of thing.

There is a good lawn that just needs cutting, but the shrubs and bushes have all overgrown and there was a huge clump ivy running through the lot. We have managed to clear a bit of the ivy this weekend, and been careful to remove roots are we go along - will this be enough to stop the ivy returning? If we have missed any roots will the ivy come back?

There are two tall bushes right in front of our windows that block the light and look very top heavy. We would like them gone completely, but they look pretty established and very thick at the base. Can I just saw them down? I guess the roots might go pretty deep so how do I best tackle them?

Lastly, any suggestions for relatively hardy and pretty plants for a clayish soil that gets plenty of sun until afternoon? All the better if they won't spread or get really large. I'd like lots of colour if possible, but worried I'll kill anything too delicate!

Thanks in advance

I_have_spoken

Ivy is a tough old plant, so you'll almost certainly see regrowth (and seedlings) but application of glyphosate to fresh leaves should finish it off.

how do I best tackle them

They might respond to a hard prune with new growth from the base, so wouldn't block your light.But a total haircut could kill them, so ideally cut 50% of the old growth this year and the remainder next year. If you do dig them out, a mattock is a handy tool for chopping and levering the rootball

any suggestions for relatively hardy and pretty plants for a clayish soil that gets plenty of sun until afternoon?

Crocus do a great plant selector -

http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/plcid.2/vid.9/vid.0/vid.30/vid.238/

Fay

Why not post some pics and you might get some, if not all, of the plants identified. Then you can look up how to prune them and look after them-instead of having to replace. If they're established plants then they like or have adapted to your soil. You would also pay a small fortune to fill your garden with established plants.
I did thus when I moved into this house and got loads of the plants identified-it's really helped me get to grips with the garden

Mojisola

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Ivy is a tough old plant, so you'll almost certainly see regrowth (and seedlings) but application of glyphosate to fresh leaves should finish it off.

Ivy has shiny leaves and the weedkiller will just run off them - either crush the leaves to break the surface and paint weedkiller gel on or make up a jar of weedkiller and poke the trailing tips into the jar to give the leaves time to soak it up.

Linda32

If you could supply some photos it would certainly help FWIW I would never want to kill ivy. There are plants that I live with which are considered weeds such as dead nettle and dandilions as they are good for wildlife. I count ivy among these.

Whatever the bushes are, you can probably just cut them down, on the basis that you do not need to break your back digging out the roots.

Pipkin

I'm currently growing Dwarf Ladys mantle in a pretty heavy clay soil, it's thriving and proving to be totally delightful.

http://www.connonnurseries.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/53/typeID/2/index.htm

Shoey1610

Thank you for the replies, I'm just working out how to post my photos!

I definitely don't want the ivy, I'm sorry to say I've never liked it however irrational that might be I'll keep taking it up and keep an eye out for shoots. I'll like some bee and butterfly friendly flowers so hopefully will be doing my bit for wildlife.

I'll look up that plant selector and those dwarf ladies thank you

REEN

If you are lucky enough to have neighbours who have nice gardens they might be able to identify what you have, and if you are lucky will give you cuttings. I am still in touch with garden-loving neighbours from 20+ years ago and we still send each other seeds and cuttings occasionally. Really money saving! My current neighbours have, on one side a tidy minimalist garden, and on the other mattresses and brambles.

Pipkin

Buddleia do really well in our soil too, i find them lovely to look at, and the butterflies love them.

Shoey1610

I hope these work! These are each of the bushes, they are taller than me and I'm 5'9'' with about 1-2 foot of just woody base before any leaves.

I_have_spoken

1st is a laurel, 2nd I'm thinking is Cornus mas 'Variegata'

Anyhow, neither are very interesting and would be no great loss IMHO