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).

[shaneystar2]

Well I've been into town .Looked round Marks ,Debs M&Co and the local department store .Dotty P's you name it I've been in there .
I've come home with a cauliflower, a ham hock and a pint of cockles . .
I wonder what my first love would say if he could see me now shoving a toad in the hole in the oven :)

[woofgang]

by me paracetamol but it makes me sleepy.

[Jude123]

I've finally finished digging all round my garden, there isn't a bluebell in sight, but like me they'll be back. I'm going to the garden centre tomorrow to buy some small bushy type plants for the spaces I've now got and some plants to pot if I can afford it cos if the shoes fit I wont be able to ;~) In total over the days it's taken me 4 hours. Phew!

Alison Krauss is on BBC 2 at 9 so I'll get myself settled to listen to her. She's a great singer and has more Grammy awards than any other woman (26).
I have a CD of her and Robert Plant together - great stuff.

[netibiza]

Thanks woofy,

Digging up bluebells jude, are you mad, they are beautiful!

[Jude123]

Neti they were dead and they grow by the milliions. I love them and I know they will be back ~ I have them and forgetmeknots together every year. Please don't shout at me :~(

[Jude123]

This is a nice song by Alison Krauss. I don't know if any of you like her but here it is anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvKtxTsVoMo

[Jude123]

That was a great Hoe Down of a programme.
I'm off to bed now. Have a good night all. See yer later 'gater(s)

[LoftyLottie]

Jude, how do your bluebells come back if you dig them up. I am puzzled. They multiply if they remain in place and also seed themselves, but how do they seed themselves or come back if you have dug them up. You can still plant your small shrubs where the bluebells are because the bluebells just die back leaving bare soil, but the bulbs remain in the ground for next year.

I am puzzled. I have loads of them and leave them where they are.

Just curious, not doubting you!

Mr LL really likes my new outfit. I did take a photo and it looked like a pair of pyjamas, so I daren't post it, but it really looks nice on.

Off to bed.

Hope you enjoyed your cockles and toad in the hole Shaney ;o)

[Robinia]

Lottie no matter how well you dig bluebells you never get every little bit out & up they pop the following year...I don't remove mine 'cos they're ok under shrubs with the lily of the valley but my neighbours have tried to get rid of some of theirs without success.

[LoftyLottie]

Thanks Robinia. Oh, I sort of thought that Jude had dug them all up 'cos she said there isn't a bluebell in sight. I just put shrubs and things in even if bluebells are still in the soil. But then I never dig my garden over. I only dig a hole to plant something new and if any bulbs are there when I dig my holes I just leave them - they either die or they don't!!

[jno]

I don't normally quote Boy George but this is funny

http://twitpic.com/4wmak2

Sun has come out in Santa Fe, lovely, not a flake of snow all day, just adobe everywhere.

[Jude123]

Morning all lovely day here.
Re the Bluebells. I have that many I can clear all that I see when they've finished flowering but I can never get all the bulbs up so there are still lots left under the soil which will arrive next year as usual. If I left them they would take-over. Honest!

Having a lazyish day today. Just a bit of shopping and the garden centre maybe.

I'm in the middle of reading about Post Traumatic Stress at the moment as I thought it may help me understand a friend who has it after being in Bosnia so I shall be reading for a bit as well. It is written by a man who was in the airforce and suffered with it after Afghanistan and has found a way through it. I am learning that his life before the Air force may have had something to do with it which may be similar to my friend so I don't think I'll be doing any psychotherapy. Just stay a friend as always.

Have a good day Everybiddy see yer later 'gater(s)

[woofgang]

Mine have even survived serial dog trampling......they really are tough!

[Robinia]

Morning all...just poured two mugs of syrupy tea down my throat via a funnel, haha, I've been to have fasting blood tests. I'll be back shortly with a bowl of very sweet weetipops....

[LoftyLottie]

Morning all. So you are now full of sugar Robinia and Hyper active!! ;o)

I know what you mean about bluebells being tough, it's just that I thought Jude had been digging really deep if you see what I mean.

I have planted lots of English bluebells over the last few years because the multitudes I have are actually Spanish!! I know I should really dig up and get rid of the Spanish ones but they are no very pretty and stand taller and brighter than the Brits, so I shall probably let them be. The British ones are not near the Spanish ones anyway.

Am going in the garden whilst the weather is so perfect and then really must tackle something in the house.

[LoftyLottie]

Oh jno, your link is just so funny!!!

[LoftyLottie]

(By looking at some of the comments, it would seem that some people think those characters are what they actually looked like and wore in the film).


But they are brilliant - so very, very funny

[netibiza]

Morning all, tooth very very painful so rushed to dentist but she can't see me until 3, a in agony.

Mr N and I went to seeabout the council taking our land, same old same old, didn't you get a letter d'oh, come back in a month!!!

Then to see about getting an address (again) it's all changed since last time, still don't have one!

Back to rest until 3, catch yer laters!!

[LoftyLottie]

Oh dear Neti. Thinking of you. You poor thing. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[netibiza]

The good news is I have lost 3 kilos cos I can't eat!!!!