Overgrown buddleia ( part 2 ) ..

sheramber

You could look at viburnum varieties. They are not fussy about position.

Look at gardens around your area and see what is growing well and if you like any of them.

Woolsery

Improving soil would go with digging out any long established shrub.....hopefully!

another_casualty

Lots to think about ,and thanks for the great help and advice so far ..

The managing agents have contacted the director of the “ gardening “ Co .
I will wait to hear what happens next.

I like the idea of leaving the growth of the healthy plants until April (typing on iPhone ) . 

When I receive the next response from the managing agents , it seems best to mention it .

 I don’t like complaining , but if I’m paying this out of my service charges then I guess I have to. In all fairness the managing agents are not too bad 🤞
Just wondering if I should ask them about them replacing the buddleia with plants that you recommended above ??
The managing agents have created a “customer portal “ which we log in and everything is under one banner so to speak; only recently happened and I will log in later on today . Hopefully the service will still be at an acceptable standard . 

One other thing ; I have a few photos from what the area outside my window looked like before I moved in. 

I’ll upload one later on , as it has different plant etc

Apologies  for long post .
I’ll leave it there..

another_casualty

This is what things looked like before . No problem with that .  Since then , the various new  " gardeners " had their own ideas. There is another pic which I will upload shortly with the berries on the good plant mentioned earlier . 

In the meantime , no news from managing agents . I would imagine that the " gardeners" should come back this week due to lack of communication etc. if they don't , I will send a polite email reminder to them . 

I was wondering if anyone has a rough ballpark figure for removal of dreaded Buddleia branches and replaced with something similar to above . This part of the flat is a sun trap ( good?) not sure if it's ' south facing ' and haven't a clue about that 😬

another_casualty

This was October 2018. After that , things are not the same 😾

theoretica

When talking with the managing agents I would suggest you ask about replacing the buddleias with something that more appropriate for the area, requires less maintenance, and was actually chosen - I anticipate that the buddleias may well have just self seeded and been left (past gardeners not doing their job?)

I would also be tempted to plant seeds of doubt about the vigorous buddleia roots and whether they have been assessed that they will not cause damage to the property.  But the downside of that is you might raise too much concern and get all the shrubs taken away and either concrete or tiny plants only.

another_casualty

Thanks @theoretica
I managed to cut everything right down last October . It is only the last couple of weeks things have started getting out of hand . If I don't hear anything , then I'll chop it back to the way it was then 

another_casualty

Well , I would like to ask for some more advice if I may ..

After a week of hearing nothing , I sent a polite note to the managing agents about an hour ago. I then received a response " that they are only cutting the Buddleia annually and are taking the professionals advice on this . The gardeners normal duties were carried out on 17th May therefore they will attend as normal cycle and not be returning ." 

I am obviously furious . I doubt if I send a response , that it would matter..
Thing is, there is no pink growth - just green weed . 

I am thinking of either sptaying weed killer or biting the bullet and getting hedge trimmers myself albeit for about £40 😾.At leas then I'd be in control once more . 

Silly me for expecting basic maintenanc3 to be carried out by these " gardeners " ! 

Any constructiv4 further advice is welcome ..

ps ..any recommendations for a cordless hedge trimmer are welcome also ..

greenbee

You don't need a hedge trimmer to cut it back. Secateurs will do a perfectly good job. 

Farway

Unfortunately the remark about annual pruning of buddleias is correct because they flower on new growth, so by cutting down new growth & hence flowers are encouraged. Being vigorous plants they may shoot up six feet or more before they flower, it’s what they do; the new growth I suspect is your “green weed”.  A classic example of wrong plant in wrong place

If you hack / prune it back now it will only regrow back to where it was. However by the looks of it the pruning was not low enough, it could’ve been down to a couple of stubs above ground and still survived.

If you can stomach it and it doesn’t block your light too much could you leave it for now until it flowers? Maybe remove some of the stems to let light through but leave others? This would help the bees & butterflies, plus demonstrating any subsequent sudden demise was nothing to with you and your green bee loving hat

As mentioned secateurs will do the job, loppers if thicker branches, and for thick as your arm ones maybe a pruning saw. No need for expensive tools for this one off, Chinese knock offs or Middle of Lidl type will do

A dab of glyphosate [Roundup] on any green growth will slowly kill it as you scratch your head wondering what on earth is going on