New Gardener - Newbie advice welcome

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by PJA190, Dec 30, 2021.

  1. PJA190

    PJA190 Gardener

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    Hi

    So recently bought a house with a garden (seen here in late Aug - everything has subsequently died for winter)

    As I a new to gardening (late to the party here!) - I thought I would start with
    1. Making a note of what I currently have in the garden, using an app of course. I need to double-check a few plants, but I think I've captured them all correctly.
    2. I cut back some of the plants during Nov Mainly the Buddleja/Sweet Mock Orange/Lavender

    My plans are in the short term.
    1. Make sure I have identified the plants correctly
    2. Cut back further any plants that need it (I think I was too polite with the Buddeja)
    3. Remove the plants/weeds I don't want (all the weeds/Jasmine/Serbian Bellflower to name but a few)
    4. When the time is right, plant the ones I do want. More Sea thrift/lavender - I basically want a sea of purple/grass towards the front of the garden
    5. Tidy up the rockery in the short term.
    6. Understand if the pear tree is dead, if so have it removed


    Below are some photos and a list of plants I had in Aug-21 at least. Garden 1.jpg Index.jpg I tried to make a list of the type as well, not sure if they are all correct - The pink shed is to be removed at a later date

    Area Name Type Comment
    1 Bog-Myrtle Shrub
    1 Photinia (Red Robin) Shrub
    1 Sweet Mock Orange Shrub Cut Back
    1 Toyon Shrub
    1 Buddleia Shrub Cut Back
    1 Powdery Meldrew
    2 Busy Lizzy Annuals
    2 Peruvian Lily Perennial
    2 Welsh Poppy Perennial
    2 Creeping Phlox Perennial
    2 Crevice Alumroot Perennial
    2 Common Gysyweed Weed To remove
    2 Chickweed Weed To remove
    2 English Ivy Perennial
    3 Wisteria Tree
    4 Welsh Poppy Perennial
    4 Begonia Perennial Add more to garden
    4 Sea Thrift Perennial Add more to garden
    5 Begonia Perennial To remove
    5 Serbian Bellflower Perennial To remove
    5 Begonia Perennial
    6 Lavender Shrub Add more to garden
    6 Male Fern Evergreen
    7 Big Leaf Hydrangea Shrub
    7 Jasmine Shrub To remove
    7 Wood Avens Weed
    7 Lilac Shrub
    8 Common Pear Tree Maybe Dead
    9 Dogweed Shrub
    9 Red Columbine Perennial
     
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    • CanadianLori

      CanadianLori Total Gardener

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      Welcome to the forum! Looks like you're already experienced. :)
       
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      • ricky101

        ricky101 Total Gardener

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        Welcome indeed, you have an envyable task on your hands for the next year or so, in what looks like a realy nice and private garden.

        There might be lots more plants to come up in early spring that you have yet to find.
         
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        • PJA190

          PJA190 Gardener

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          Haha - the garden looked nice when we bought - once I’ve owned it a year and if it still looks nice, I’ll call myself a beginner :-)
           
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          • Perki

            Perki Total Gardener

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            I wouldn't rely on the apps for plant ID's I can see a couple of suspect plants on your list - Toyon shrub - Bog myrtle - Powdery mildew not a plant its a disease. Pop a picture on here of theses I've mentioned and any plants you suspect aren't right or as many plants ID's as you like . The Begonia aren't perennial either they die in the winter , they would be perennial in a warmer climate but in the UK they are classed as Annuals.

            I good clue to see if the pear tree is dead is scrape some of the bark off on the odd branch , if its green / creamy colour its alive .

            You'll have to be careful with pruning shrubs , some make flowers on new growth that grown in the same year for example Buddleia . Other shrubs need older woody stems usually 1or 2 years of growth to form flowers for example Philadelphus or more common known as Mock orange its very likely you've removed the flowers for next year ( 2022 ) depending on how you pruned it .

            I am not all bad news :) at least you know what you want which is uncommon for new gardeners.
             
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            • Selleri

              Selleri Koala

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              A warm welcome @PJA190

              You have a brilliant space and an excellent plan and approach :)

              If you'd like to document and share your project, there is a forum for Garden projects where you can start a new thread to document your progress. Please do so if you have a moment, it's so nice to follow progress over the years.

              Gardening is rewarding exactly because you don't have to get it right the first time. If a shrub pruned to the ground fails to flower, next year you'll know better and prune it at a different time. Any disappointments can be composted and re-figured, which is much easier than with other similar issues we may encounter in our daily lives ;)

              It's all about learning and admiring anything that grows up from the soil (Plus carrying heavy loads back and forth :biggrin:)

              Keep us posted, and best wishes for the New Year! :star::star::star::star::star:
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                • Lem

                  Lem Keen Gardener

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                  • Logan

                    Logan Total Gardener

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                    Hello and welcome to GC forums
                    :sign0016:
                    Enjoy doing your garden.
                     
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                    • Jasmine star

                      Jasmine star Super Gardener

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                      Sounds like you have started really well @PJA190 look forward to seeing your progress and welcome to the forum :biggrin:
                       
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                      • Tomcat

                        Tomcat Gardener

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                        Welcome to Gardeners Corner forum @PJA190 , you are in the right place ! :autumn:
                         
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                        • HarryS

                          HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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                          Welcome PJA190 to GC :sunflower:
                           
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                          • PJA190

                            PJA190 Gardener

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                            Thank you for reply - By the photo, a fellow Triumph owner (had x2 765 RS and currently on a Thurxton RS with the fairing) :-)

                            Yeah, I noticed the Powdery Mildrew was incorrect! - Typcically I forgot which plant it was. I'll check the Toyaon and Bog Myrthle
                             
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                            • PJA190

                              PJA190 Gardener

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                              I'll post in the garden project next :-) I'll be low work this year, as work usually take all my time. But if I can make some good progress just adding plants in that i like, that will be a start. Then I'll worry about something more substantial later in the year, next year :-)
                               
                            • PJA190

                              PJA190 Gardener

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                              Nothing to see here
                               
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