Nice job, really opens that view, need to be ruthless to see the eventual triumph of the new look garden. Well done Joe, keep up the good work, great to see the byproduct of mulch. Its final contribution to the garden 😊👏
I’ve always regretted removing things from my own garden too quickly when I moved in but then again (a) I’m a novice and (b) my garden’s tiny. You know what you’re doing and the elaeagnus was a monster
The first year or so being in our garden we removed several overgrown shrubs too. It felt counter intuitive initially but, I agree, provided the opportunity to create something more special - Good Luck, fella!
We had our 2 acre garden for nearly 20 years. It was mostly a blank canvas but now has mostly mature plants and a bed in the middle of the garden which I should have kept low but didn’t. However it’s not coming out as it’s a home to a lot of wildlife.We did have to have a tree removed as it was old and became dangerous but I took cuttings and hopefully some of them will survive to be replanted. I’m not a garden designer so it doesn’t matter to me if it looks perfect. The birds keep the pests in balance so no chemicals are needed ❤ Don’t forget to take lots of pictures of what the plants and garden look like through out the years to see how it changes !
I actually love an eleagnus - I have the non variegated ebbingei - for the silvery leaf, scented flowers and tasty fruit. I will have to continuously prune mine in my my tiny garden where it occupies a very windy spot where much else would struggle. Will it work on the long term? No idea. Unlike you though I don't want to create an open vista in my garden because all of it would be then seen in one glance. Also having had to create my garden from scratch while struggling budget wise I tend to very much appreciate an established plant. While I may have tried to thin yours and expose some of that lovely contorted branching to allow the eye to go through (at least see how it would look like), each to their own. Your situation and garden couldn't be more different from mine, and you do have plenty of established plants to play with.
I inherited my parents’ garden which they built up over a thirty-year period. Some plants are now too big or woody, or are in the wrong place. Some are just plain ugly. I know I should remove them but I feel really guilty about it! Perhaps taking cuttings from the nicer ones and planting them elsewhere would ease my guilt. I have so many ideas for the garden but they all involve substantial changes to what’s already there. I suppose we just have to move on and to leave our own stamp on our gardens.
You made me laugh when you said your getting the chainsaw out along with the shredder, I live in the country with a few acres around and its so quiet with bird song etc...until my husband appears to break up the downed trees for firewood. I call him the noise maker, so our weekly converstion often askes which day is the noise maker going to be out 🤣🤣
Great videos so far, we’ll follow with interest. We’ve removed a lot in our garden and more than compensated with new plants we love. And to be honest, even some of the new ones didn’t work so we’ve got rid of some of those too. I’ve not heard you discuss your soil yet Joe. I’m interested in what type of soil or soils you have across your plot.
Enjoying your videos, got to make it your own! Just a thought…. Have you thought about building some dead hedges using some of your prunings? We’ve built quite a lot this year in our woodland area, great for the wildlife too. 👍🏻😉🤗
Unlike you I've been planting quite a few evergreens in my small garden recently for Winter structure, colour and scent, but plan to prune them quite heavily to contain them and disguise boundaries, particularly those bare fences in Winter. Have a mature Osmanthus Burkwoodii and last year decided to try some cloud pruning (having seen them treated this way at Wisley). Still a work in progress but removing most of the centre of the shrub has already opening up and lightened the feel of that border. It's fun to experiment, and I hope you have a wonderful adventure designing your new garden.
People are always funny about saving plants when they don’t have a lot to take care of. Or they live in an area where it is so hard to grow certain things. It’s a big picture, little picture thing. Only the gardeners who’s garden it is knows what needs to be done.
Don’t worry about what others think😊it’s your garden, looking forward to watching your vision for it👍
A chuckle from me at ‘yes it’s sad’! 😂 Chop away Joe. A view to the woods seems far preferable.
Man on a mission Joe. It was monstrous.
I am so looking forward to see what you do with this garden. Remember Joe it's your garden.❤
That really opened it up in a much needed way.
Nice job, really opens that view, need to be ruthless to see the eventual triumph of the new look garden. Well done Joe, keep up the good work, great to see the byproduct of mulch. Its final contribution to the garden 😊👏
I’ve always regretted removing things from my own garden too quickly when I moved in but then again (a) I’m a novice and (b) my garden’s tiny. You know what you’re doing and the elaeagnus was a monster
Removing that shrub really opened up the view! Definitely worth doing.
My chipper gets positioned in front of my compost bays & we chip directly into them. Saves on labour.
The first year or so being in our garden we removed several overgrown shrubs too. It felt counter intuitive initially but, I agree, provided the opportunity to create something more special - Good Luck, fella!
What a difference, look forward to seeing the changes and new planting!
We had our 2 acre garden for nearly 20 years. It was mostly a blank canvas but now has mostly mature plants and a bed in the middle of the garden which I should have kept low but didn’t. However it’s not coming out as it’s a home to a lot of wildlife.We did have to have a tree removed as it was old and became dangerous but I took cuttings and hopefully some of them will survive to be replanted. I’m not a garden designer so it doesn’t matter to me if it looks perfect. The birds keep the pests in balance so no chemicals are needed ❤ Don’t forget to take lots of pictures of what the plants and garden look like through out the years to see how it changes !
Blob on the landscape 😊
I actually love an eleagnus - I have the non variegated ebbingei - for the silvery leaf, scented flowers and tasty fruit. I will have to continuously prune mine in my my tiny garden where it occupies a very windy spot where much else would struggle. Will it work on the long term? No idea. Unlike you though I don't want to create an open vista in my garden because all of it would be then seen in one glance. Also having had to create my garden from scratch while struggling budget wise I tend to very much appreciate an established plant. While I may have tried to thin yours and expose some of that lovely contorted branching to allow the eye to go through (at least see how it would look like), each to their own. Your situation and garden couldn't be more different from mine, and you do have plenty of established plants to play with.
Love my battery power tools! Makes life easy.
I inherited my parents’ garden which they built up over a thirty-year period. Some plants are now too big or woody, or are in the wrong place. Some are just plain ugly. I know I should remove them but I feel really guilty about it! Perhaps taking cuttings from the nicer ones and planting them elsewhere would ease my guilt. I have so many ideas for the garden but they all involve substantial changes to what’s already there. I suppose we just have to move on and to leave our own stamp on our gardens.
You made me laugh when you said your getting the chainsaw out along with the shredder, I live in the country with a few acres around and its so quiet with bird song etc...until my husband appears to break up the downed trees for firewood. I call him the noise maker, so our weekly converstion often askes which day is the noise maker going to be out 🤣🤣
Out with the old, in with the new. 👍
What about the stump? We had a very overgrown garden but we’ve been left with stumps which we really struggle to remove to replant.
Totally agree with your sensibility! No controversy from me.
Great videos so far, we’ll follow with interest. We’ve removed a lot in our garden and more than compensated with new plants we love. And to be honest, even some of the new ones didn’t work so we’ve got rid of some of those too.
I’ve not heard you discuss your soil yet Joe. I’m interested in what type of soil or soils you have across your plot.
Enjoying your videos, got to make it your own! Just a thought…. Have you thought about building some dead hedges using some of your prunings? We’ve built quite a lot this year in our woodland area, great for the wildlife too. 👍🏻😉🤗
Unlike you I've been planting quite a few evergreens in my small garden recently for Winter structure, colour and scent, but plan to prune them quite heavily to contain them and disguise boundaries, particularly those bare fences in Winter. Have a mature Osmanthus Burkwoodii and last year decided to try some cloud pruning (having seen them treated this way at Wisley). Still a work in progress but removing most of the centre of the shrub has already opening up and lightened the feel of that border. It's fun to experiment, and I hope you have a wonderful adventure designing your new garden.
I’m just wondering if you had considered cleaning it up instead of removing it completely? I love the idea of mulching it.
People are always funny about saving plants when they don’t have a lot to take care of. Or they live in an area where it is so hard to grow certain things. It’s a big picture, little picture thing. Only the gardeners who’s garden it is knows what needs to be done.