what palm tree is this?

Hi,

two of my palm trees are cordylines but how about this one?

Too many leaves at the moment. When and how can I prune it? It is soo big i cannot even get to the dead leaves.

Thanks

 

The one in the middle of the pic is a cordyline, the one to the left next to the pond looks like a phormium.
Its not something I would plant that close to a pond due to the roots wanting to get under the liner.
The cordyline will go upwards the phormium, (New Zealand flax), will grow outwards.

 

Yes Pete. It is a Phormium tenax. Love them but although they want to be moist you are (again) not wrong. Oh and, again, don't prune GL. Just take out dead leaves, as you can get to them

 

bad news then.

The pond drained in about 4 weeks once i moved in the house. I suspected a breach in the liner and this palm tree could be the culprit as some stuff is ticking out of the liner.
I want to retain the pond but i'd feel guilty getting rid of the three but i can't see any option.

What can I do?

Is it growing too big and it looks a mess.

I don't want to get rid of the pond and also the palm tree is right on the fence....

 

Think I'd dig the phormium out and plant a bit of it somewhere else. Its a good plant, but in the wrong place.
As to the pond, if the liners torn, then you have no option but to reline it, if you want to keep it.
Could be quite a big job to do properly though as the liner runs under that brick edging, which in turn runs under that rockery at the waterfall end.

Personally, I'd remove the bricks, reline, perhaps after making it a bit bigger where the phormium is now growing, and then lay paving slabs as an edging.
The brick edging looks a bit dodgy to me.

 

pete,

thanks for the advice.

What would happen to the roots?

What tool is best for digging out this plant?

Is the root bit likely to be massive.
As mentioned the previous owner has stuck it right next to the boundary fence which I don't want to damage in the process.

I don't think i'd make the pond bigger. May stick some jungle looking plants replacing the palm tree.

Agree about the brickwork.

 

Probably be able to get it out with a good strong garden fork, not likely to be easy though.
Maybe a spade to cut it in sections.
You could cut all the leaves off first, so as to see what your doing.
They tend to grow from separate crowns so it should come out in bits, if you want it to.
Its a tough old plant.
Once the growing crowns are removed and roots left behind should die.

An alternative for it could be a fatsia, nice big shiney leaves and reasonably slowgrowing, also pruneable if it gets too big.

 

Pete,

Changing the subject slightly, what plant is the bushy looking one on the back slope.

It is beautiful but i can't see them from my
patio doors. Previous owner has put stuff in the wrong place?

Would that plant suffer if I moved it to the other side?

 

Hebe of some sort probably

Maybe Hebe buchananii ?

 

I agree, maybe BM is right and it is a hebe.
We really need a close up to be sure though.

It looks well established whatever it is and may be a better bet to either root some cuttings or buy another.

 

Hi all,

Even though it is a quite big I prefer leaving it where it is. I would have preferred it on the other side as this would have been in view from my living toom patio door!!!

In terms of the pond, do you guys suggest I leave the existing liner in and just cover it up with new one? Also any tips on replacing the bricks at the side, any better looking stone / slab?

I have so many ideas in my head. The latest one is to have a tropical theme near the pond replacing the palm tree which as discussed has to come out. It would be nice to have some nice luscious tropical plant growing from the raised bed onto the waterfall, could I grow such a thing there?

Thnks again

 

I'm not good on garden design GL.
You can always plant something else the other side, that is in view of your patio door.

But I think if I was taking the brick edging away from the pond I'd pobably remove the old liner and get a new one.

maybe then some slabs around the edge matching the ones on the path.
Could involve quite a bit of cutting though if you keep the pond that shape

To me the waterfall looks a little strange hanging out, like it does.
Think I would do away with that entirely and create some kind of trickle flowing directly out the back wall and into the pond.
Not sure how the wall above the waterfall is supported though.


I think you really need to sort out the pond first before going onto what you can plant around it, it wont happen overnight, you need to take it one step at a time. although it is good that you have a final aim.