Garden plant advice

1404

MysteryMe said:

I really would not use cheap multi purpose compost, not suitable for shrubs/small trees. That sort of stuff is OK for annuals/ bedding but not for anything long term.  The soil needs to be rich in structure and nutrients. 

Yeah, I think I made a mistake buying 1000 liters of Asda compost 😆. Cost me £98.

I'll be returning it and buying the B&Q Verve top soil recommended earlier. (£4 per 25l). I'll need a lot of it (about 1000 liters). Worked out out should cost about £140.

1404

I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but does anyone know if these two trees will recover or are they best removed?

They seem to be mini-fir trees. They've been this height for years. Small one is about 2 ft tall and the big one is about 6'3.

They had brown patches, especially at the bases of the trees. So I got my trimmers out and removed the brown parts. But I've since been told that I shouldn't have done that as these trees won't grow back. What would any resident green-fingered person do with them? 

Sarahspangles

1404 said:

I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but does anyone know if these two trees will recover or are they best removed?

They seem to be mini-fir trees. They've been this height for years. Small one is about 2 ft tall and the big one is about 6'3.

They had brown patches, especially at the bases of the trees. So I got my trimmers out and removed the brown parts. But I've since been told that I shouldn't have done that as these trees won't grow back. What would any resident green-fingered person do with them? 

They sound like dwarf conifers and may have reached their full height. Your options are to replace completely, or disguise the bald bits by planting around them.

If you’re replacing, consider why they had brown bits. A ‘natural’ reason is that no light was getting to that part of the tree, in which case a tree will jettison the branches as they’re not required. However if the actual issue is dog urine or wind burn (slightly tender conifer, windy corner) the problem will simply recur and it’s not a good spot for a conifer.

1404

Sorry, I meant to add this picture! 

Sarahspangles

1404 said:

Sorry, I meant to add this picture! 

I think those are golden cypress. They’re not the right plant for that spot. In fact, they’re capable of growing bigger than your cherry laurel! They come from California which means they want sun and warmth. I can see those would like to go back there.

There are so many nicer plants for a shady front garden. Assuming you want evergreens, then holly, yew and box naturally grow under trees in woodland in the UK, so they thrive in shady gardens and can be trimmed/managed for size and shape. There are ornamental varieties of holly in particular with extra spikiness or gold and silver edges. Yes these plants are more expensive initially but in the long run you won’t need to replace them.

I do think front gardens are ‘plant and forget’, in most of my houses I’ve wanted them to look smart but have concentrated on the back garden for the plants that need more active care. In the one house that I had with a shady front garden, I didn’t even bother with bedding plants by the front door but planted shade-tolerant Eleagnus and hydrangeas which at least flowered once a year. Last time I passed, they were still there, 20 years on.

FreeBear

1404 said:

MysteryMe said:

I really would not use cheap multi purpose compost, not suitable for shrubs/small trees. That sort of stuff is OK for annuals/ bedding but not for anything long term.  The soil needs to be rich in structure and nutrients. 

Yeah, I think I made a mistake buying 1000 liters of Asda compost 😆. Cost me £98.

I'll be returning it and buying the B&Q Verve top soil recommended earlier. (£4 per 25l). I'll need a lot of it (about 1000 liters). Worked out out should cost about £140.

Have a look at buying in bulk bags rather than 25l bags, and shop around - Just had a look at B&Q. 25l bags work out at 16p per litre, and a 600l bulk bag, 18p/l...

Buying locally, I can get 800Kg bulk bags from around £80 delivered, or a tipper load at £40/tonne plus £20 for delivery. Worth checking to see what local suppliers can do.

1404

Sarahspangles said:

1404 said:

Sorry, I meant to add this picture! 

I think those are golden cypress. They’re not the right plant for that spot. In fact, they’re capable of growing bigger than your cherry laurel! They come from California which means they want sun and warmth. I can see those would like to go back there.

There are so many nicer plants for a shady front garden. Assuming you want evergreens, then holly, yew and box naturally grow under trees in woodland in the UK, so they thrive in shady gardens and can be trimmed/managed for size and shape. There are ornamental varieties of holly in particular with extra spikiness or gold and silver edges. Yes these plants are more expensive initially but in the long run you won’t need to replace them.

I do think front gardens are ‘plant and forget’, in most of my houses I’ve wanted them to look smart but have concentrated on the back garden for the plants that need more active care. In the one house that I had with a shady front garden, I didn’t even bother with bedding plants by the front door but planted shade-tolerant Eleagnus and hydrangeas which at least flowered once a year. Last time I passed, they were still there, 20 years on.

Those trees were there when I moved in 7 years ago. They haven't grown in that time. There were two other smaller ones but they were clearly in a bad way so I took them away. 

Yes, they're in the shade mostly. Even without the trees over them it would be shady because of the houses and the easterly aspect of the front garden. 

So they won't recover the lost branches and green foliage? 

1404

Where nothing grows (including grass) under the trees I've used decorative bark. That's a no-maintenance solution.

Sarahspangles

1404 said:

Those trees were there when I moved in 7 years ago. They haven't grown in that time. There were two other smaller ones but they were clearly in a bad way so I took them away. 

Yes, they're in the shade mostly. Even without the trees over them it would be shady because of the houses and the easterly aspect of the front garden. 

So they won't recover the lost branches and green foliage? 

I would say they’re just about hanging on, but maybe it’s time to put them out of their misery!

Whatever you put there needs to actually like the conditions. And you can help them by removing competition from the grass by edging the lawn, planting them in soil you have enriched with compost, watering to get them established and feeding in Spring.

1404

Sarahspangles said:

1404 said:

Those trees were there when I moved in 7 years ago. They haven't grown in that time. There were two other smaller ones but they were clearly in a bad way so I took them away. 

Yes, they're in the shade mostly. Even without the trees over them it would be shady because of the houses and the easterly aspect of the front garden. 

So they won't recover the lost branches and green foliage? 

I would say they’re just about hanging on, but maybe it’s time to put them out of their misery!

Whatever you put there needs to actually like the conditions. And you can help them by removing competition from the grass by edging the lawn, planting them in soil you have enriched with compost, watering to get them established and feeding in Spring.

Would you also use compost when planting the cherry Laurels in planters, or just use soil?

Edit: the soil I'm using is Verve top soil from B&Q. Is that sufficient by itself?