Pruning Shrubs

[Robinia]

Have any of you lovely gardeners hard pruned, into old thick wood, any of the following shrubs and had them live to see another year?!!  I read all the books but there's so much conflicting advice when it comes to renovation pruning.

Olearia haastii (Daisy bush)

Lonicera fragrantissima (winter honeysuckle - think this one will be ok)

Cotinus (smoke Bush).

[netibiza]

Bit of shocking news, while we were all out having lunch yesterday we were burgled and they stole over 2,000€ which was the money for the golf trip starting today. There was another 2,000€ that they didn't see, Mr N was gutted, as he's the treasurer, but luckily we had enough in our bank account to cover it, so he had to rush to ATM and withdraw practically all of it! The police don't give us any hope. Seems the back door was forced even though it's a huge thick door, was levered open, so he's had tomend that before he could leave at 9.30 this am! We were both up nearly all night worrying, but what can you do! Tighten our belts for a while until I get in touch with our fund manager in England and request some money!!

[netibiza]

It was in a safe at the back of the wardrobe covered by clothes which is why we didn't notice at first, the other 2000 was in another safe elsewhere!

[Robinia]

Morning all
Oh neti, I'm so sorry to hear your news, what a horrible, awful thing to happen. I hope you feel ok physically, I think I'd be a wreck. Don't gve up hope, we need a bit of biddy positivity here to see those "£$%&*#$ are caught.

Here you all are, busy in the kitchen, I didn't do a darn thing domestic, I was mostly dans le jardin. It was nice for being busy-ish, no sun or wind, did a it of clearing & threw some bark down...

http://i56.tinypic.com/de9xd1.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/sy1bhy.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/10scja1.jpg

there's a battle going on under the smoke tree between the lily of the valey & bluebells...it smells lovely

http://i52.tinypic.com/11w7u9v.jpg

[jno]

how awful, neti. We got burgled yonks ago and it felt terrible even though we lost nothing much (because it was in the days when we had nothing much). How on earth did they manage to find a safe buried under clothes? Could they have known what they were looking for (a renegade golfer perhaps) or was it just bad luck?

Lovely photos, Robinia... the cotinus is still going, is it? We are supposed to go in search of a pheromone trap today, though I don't know what we're going to do with the pheromones if we catch any. Can you train them to do work around the house?

[LoftyLottie]

Oh Neti, that is so awful. Poor you and Mr Nets. Apart from the loss, you must feel quite violated. Dreadful news. Take care of yourselves.

Missed you all yesterday. We went out to lunch and I came back and fell asleep for the rest of the afternoon. Prawns with Chilli Dip and Salad, followed by traditional roast beef and yorkshire pud with all the trimmings, followed by Panna Cotta which was dripping with loads of lemoncello - a very alcoholic pud indeed. Huge jug of coffee. I also had a couple of large white wine spritzers.

Unfortunately, I have learned that alcohol really does trigger my arthritis and IBS to a great degree. I needed the sleep.

Beautiful pictures Robi. You have my kind of garden - very natural looking. I notice that you too have had some die back and brown on your choisia. We have too, but loads more than you, but then we have exposed fields beyond. I believe they don't like frost.

Jude Derby v Norwich today so you and I should be at loggerheads!! ;o)

See you later.

xxx

[woofgang]

Oh Neti I am sorry...I hope they catch the b and if not that he gets no good from the money...had he rifled everywhere or did he seem to know where to look?
Robi your garden is beautiful. My narciss and liliy of the valley are just about over but my roses ands peonies are looking promising. DH is still asleep.

[Robinia]

Hi folks...Lottie my garden isn't as packed with plants as yours is, I just couldn't cope any longer with all the digging & splitting year after year, hence the bark areas & shrubs are allowed to spread. Yes, shame the choisya gets frost bitten but thankfully it recovers. I've got a different one in the front garden which hasn't suffered at all, Aztec Pearl, it's beautiful at the moment, like a mound of snow & the leaves are a bit acer-like...or is it cannabis? lol
I thought my lily of the valley was early woofy, yours must have been premature!

A pheremone trap jno? Does that mean some sweaty bloke who's gonna lure us into into his den? Oh goodo :o)


Did anyone see Corrie? Marcus (Sean's ex boyfriend) said KBO! haha

[netibiza]

No we weren't rifled, but a few cupboards were opened and gone through! The police don't have a clue! not that they would bother much anyway! The money can't be traced! Guess it was just our bad luck, I am really nervous of the people who are living at the back, they do not appear to be nice, well they do, but not in "our" (as in British) nice way. Wouldn't trust them a inch cos my log basket and sock hanger never re-appeared! Still what's done is done, just hope we can make up the loss in some way!

[Robinia]

You'll get the money back neti, I'll put in an order for you.

[netibiza]

It's not so much the money (well it is) but what if we hadn't been able to replace it by this am, the golfing holiday for 20 of them would have been cancelled! and what if they hadn't believed him, and thought it was him embezzling?The very thought of it has shaken him up.

Anyway was Lewis called The gift of Promise last night cos that's the one I'm downloading.

[woofgang]

DH not so good today....feeling sick and weary....good thoughts please.

[Robinia]

Lewis - yes that was the one neti, I fell asleep & missed the last 30/40 mins so no spoilers thanks! :o) I'll catch up on iplayer later.

I was shook up when someone came into my garden, I'd go mad at the thought of someone coming into the house.

[Robinia]

oh dear, <orders one rapid recovery for woofy>... hope you feel better soon.

[Robinia]

oops, sorry, misread... hope mr woofy feels better soon.

[woofgang]

thank you....

[netibiza]

yes mr woofy get well soon, mind you woofy it's always after he's been out on the bike! Lock it away!

[shaneystar2]

Oh Neti .I am sorry to hear this .What a frightening thing to happen .
.I hope you and Mr N are feeling Ok now .If I win the Lottery tonight I'll send you the money .Chin up old girl and I hope they choke on it ,the rotten buggers xxxx

Sending good vibes for Mr Woofy too and hope everyone else is OK .
Lovely day here again but very breezy .Take care all.

[netibiza]

Now my internet and landline have gone down. Am using android

[Robinia]

oh dear neti, you're not having a very good time of it....just looked back to see what Jude said on her last post on here (it was Wednesday!) & it said her laptop was going for repair, so I hope that's the only problem there.

Get your vest back on shaney, it's going to be much cooler again :o(

[LoftyLottie]

Best wishes for Mr Woofy. Hope he will feel better tomorrow.

Robi, I don't dig and split at all. I obviously have to dig to plant something new (well Mr LL does) but nothing else. I let everything do its own thing. I do prune, I must admit. I haven't got loads of perennials that need splitting and I rely heavily on pots and tubs and self seeding things. Our garden is comparitively easy to maintain actually.