Time to pay the piper...

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

I knew this day would come; surprisingly, I thought it would come sooner...

I usually don't have to do much in the summer in the perennial beds -- my planning paid off here -- but come late August or September I usually turn my attention to re-arranging things and making things better. But this year is the year I have to start with big-time culling, thinning, whatever you want to call ripping things out because it's too over-crowded.

I put in a huge perennial border a handful of years ago, wraps around 3 sides of the house. I like a filled-in look so I planted...and planted...and planted, I purposely over-planted because I just can't stand bareness in beds. I've taken stuff out here and there for various reasons, but my mission today was to start the big cull.

Top of my list was Annabelle hydrangea. I adore her, but if she's happy she turns into a thug, and I had to whittle my groups of three down to a singular large shrub in each area. I still have two more groups to go but after about 9 hours outside I just got too tired to deal with any more of that.

I'm torn on my roses, though. I have an Iceberg, which is a sentimental favorite of mine, and she bloomed her fool head off this year but is about as tall as me at over 5' and only has two handful of leaves after the blackspot took up residence. I'm thinking she won't have the energy to make it through the winter so I'm seriously thinking of taking her out. I have a rugosa rose that needs to be moved so I might replace the Iceberg with the rugosa. And the David Austins. The David Austins... I have two Royal Jubilee, and I adore the blooms -- the perfect shade of pink and that fragrance! But after 4-5 years they are just not showing their stuff. I can't decide whether to pot them up or toss them. I'm trying to get away from having to overwinter potted stuff but dang it's hard to ditch these, I really love those flowers. And I have no idea where I'd put the pots anyway. I have a potted Desdemona that is still sitting next to the barn, I didn't know where to put her so I just left her there after I received her in May and potted her up. She sure does look healthy, though -- so maybe there's something to be said for putting the roses in a pot and forgetting about them LOL!

You guys are gonna boo and hiss me, but I tossed both my clumps of "Kent Belle" campanula. They just don't do it for me.

Anyway, I got a lot done and feel a sense of accomplishment, since it's been bugging me to get started on this. I still have two areas to go (and those Annabelle...).

ETA: I'm definitely going to pay the price tomorrow for the marathon session today. I try to limit myself to a couple-few hours at a time but once I got on a roll the day flew by. Oh well. The satisfaction of getting all this done is worth it. I think. I hope...

Featured Answer

porkchop_z5b_MI
Original Author

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Here you go, Ken:

8/2022:

6/2022:

2020: (I haven't gotten to thinning out these Annabelle yet...)

7/2021: (...nor these...)

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Comments (10)

mazerolm_3a
3 years ago
Wow, you certainly got a lot done!! Hope you’re not feeling too sore tomorrow and the day after!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
I put in a huge perennial border a handful of years ago, wraps around 3 sides of the house. I like a filled-in look so I planted...and planted...and planted, I purposely over-planted

==>> any before and after pix... pllllzzzzzz

ken
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rosaprimula UK (Cambridge) Z8/9
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Wel hey, I am also doing a rose cull, including a coupla Austins I am a bit conflicted about. I have had mine for ages though and just really want to see something different...but mostly, they are hard to weed around, and under and occupy huge areas of...horribleness, from July onwards. Your decisions are much harder, I think. As for roses in pots...well, some people manage to get a good show but I am not one of them so if they are not in the ground, they are not for me.

Well done you, for getting started though - I find this is always the hardest thing and once underway, I can motor along.You can definitely feel like you have achieved something worthwhile - I don't envy you having to chop out the Annabelles...did you ever find a decent battery operated shearer? I had Kent Belle ages ago and got rid because they were just...clumsy. So many better campanulas, imo.
sherrygirl zone5 N il
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I understand removing the roses, mine left the garden at least a decade ago. My first concern was thorns and injuries to my small dogs. Second, I tired of the spraying and insect problems….I am now into easier care for this aging body. I like the ”full” look too…no need for mulch when the plants do it for you, so that is another chore I dont have to do.

I think your gardens look very nice!

Sherry
rusty_blackhaw
3 years ago
David Austin roses look great - in catalog photos. I've found that they need too much coddling to do their best, and I refuse to do more than mulch around them in winter, which usually causes at least modest dieback, and it takes awhile for them to get going again in spring here in central Kentucky. No idea why rugosas aren't available more around here. I have a 6 x 4 foot specimen of "Mrs. Anthony Waterer" which is tough as nails, flowers (fragrant) abundantly in early to mid spring and periodically thereafter.
djacob Z6a SE WI
3 years ago
mxk3, I am also redoing a small area along the back fence line. Not as extensive as yours. I am also wanting a “full look” but am fighting the urge to not over plant the area. It’s hard because it won’t mature for 3 years……you know, sleep, creep, leap. I find myself wanting to buy two of everything…. Lol

debra
porkchop_z5b_MI
Original Author
3 years ago
rusty_blackhaw: I love rugosas! Have quite a few of them. Agree they are tough as nails, and have the added bonus of interesting winter appearance -- the thorny bark looks like some sort of Medieval torture device, it's pretty cool.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
thx for the pix... the 'apparently' floating beck reminds me of swim platforms out at the lake when i was a kid... sans the redwood stain of course... and i presume the pic is a camera trick.. that its not floating in the middle of the garden..

ken
porkchop_z5b_MI
Original Author
3 years ago
"...and i presume the pic is a camera trick.. that its not floating in the middle of the garden.."

I wish it would float away. Hopefully sometime during the remainder of my lifetime I'll have the funds rip that butt-ugly pink deck out and put in a proper patio. The greenery hides the ugliness of the color.

Here's what it really looks like, from the listing photo -- orange house, pink deck: