Preparing for spring!

moneysaver1978

We moved to our home in August and while we had done a fair amount of DIY and gardening work (including some repair of the poor lawn!), we cannot wait for the spring to start working in the garden!

Thanks to the PictureThis app, we were able to identify a number of plants in our back garden so we know how to care for them (and also whether they are a weed or not!). However there is one we struggle to work out...



The app identifies this as a Mediterranean mallow but we are not convinced plus we haven't seen any flowers.

Brie

Can't help with the ID but the general advice for people moving to where there is an established garden is to leave things for a year so you can see the full 4 seasons.  After that you know better what changes are required.  

Obviously doesn't stop you from planting a lot of spring bulbs, things in pots, sorting out the veg plot.

ArbitraryRandom

At first glance, the leaves look mallow-like to me?

twopenny

How exciting!
The mature leaves are too long and pointed and the growth shape doesn't seem right for a mallow.
Just looked at a couple of books but it's late.

You could try a google photo match and see what comes up.

The leaves have a hairy sheen which says from a hot country. They start rounded and grow pointed.
My first thought was Seakale but they're wrong for that.
I'll have another go tomorrow. I like a puzzle.

Are they individual plants or branches of the one?

Dustyevsky

It's definitely in the Mallow family, but these plants are variable, they can hybridise, and also there's the possibility of seeds being brought home from holidays. I wouldn't dwell on what it is exactly, but simply wait and see if it earns its keep!

moneysaver1978

Thank you all! Good call about leaving a garden alone for a full season! Although sadly, one side of the fence came down so we are using the opportunity to revamp the garden with a raised bed (and replanting some of the existing plants).

It's a single plant with several branches - photos below (it does remind me too much of that thing in The Stranger Things! Haha!):



Either way, excited for the "green" adventure (after spending so many years in an apartment in the city) and even have a spreadsheet already for the plants identified!

twopenny

I can help with the English lavender.
Really worth it's space in a garden. When gathered you can make your own lavender water for spray, laundry, moths in wardrobe or carpets or to cook with.

prune - snip back only as far as 2 or 3 clusters of leaves. Never brown wood.

If not regularly pruned autumn and spring (a pleasant job) it will go woody.
Cuttings can be a small twig pulled off from a ripe branch and it should have a heel.
Press into soil somewhere. A half dozen or so. Autumn.
Or you can try them in pots. 2 or 3 each.

You can dig it up and bury it deeper in the soil. It will then make new roots from the burried branches.
A smattering of bonemeal helps but they don't like much.

You've got 'diseased'. What disease is that.
They are pretty tough. I've never had a problem with English lavender.
Photo?

Katiehound

Foxgloves are biennial so if they flowered last year that's it! (Except you can prune lower down the stem and they may grow again)  You should have seedlings growing already for this year- they are generally prolific.

Lavender- you can prune the new growth in the autumn and then push the  pieces into a pot- preferably near the edges of a clay pot. With luck they will root over winter. This is the same for many evergreen shrubs. No need for a heel- just patience! You can try this with the sage , Mexican orange (Choisya ) & the hebe. 

Laurel can grow into a thug- make sure you keep it pruned to the size you want!

Willow herbs are considered as weeds. They tend to be prolific as the seeds float off in the wind.

moneysaver1978

Thank you both!  Photos of the lavenders:

Tipped Lavender:



"Woody" English Lavender:

I am planning to remove the plants, fix the fence behind, build a raised bed, and then replant so if the lavender is gone, no point in replanting. Maybe!

Katiehound

Lavender just needs a trim- cut off the newer growth but certainly don't go into the woody stems- that's a 'no go' Personally I would cut the woody one so that the stems are all about the same height as the lower tips.- I think that would be about level with base piece of panel. Just neaten off.

moneysaver1978

Katiehound said:

Lavender just needs a trim- cut off the newer growth but certainly don't go into the woody stems- that's a 'no go' Personally I would cut the woody one so that the stems are all about the same height as the lower tips.- I think that would be about level with base piece of panel. Just neaten off.

Thank you! The question with the big lavender - the whole thing is full of woody stems so I am unsure where to trim.