I was intending to have hedge cutting as my main task for August, but I had a change of plans. Due to the wet weather that we have been having in the Midlands, the soil is still workable so I have taken the opportunity to attack the ‘thugs’ in my garden. Thugs are what I call plants that have global domination in mind and want to take over my garden.
Earlier in the year I removed a number of geraniums that had seeded themselves around. This month I focused on vinca and rudbeckia.
I had planted various vincas (also known as periwinkle) around the garden as I thought they would make good ground cover. I didn’t realise that not only would they cover the ground, they also like to cover any other plants that get in their way. I am on a mission to remove them completely from my garden, although this may taken some time to do as it is proving to be impossible to dig them up so I am having to pull it out by hand. It is a shame as I like the flowers and the variegated leaves, but they have proved to be just too vigorous in my garden.
With the rudbeckia (also known as coneflower or black-eyed Susan) it is only one variety that I am attacking, namely Goldsturm. I really like the flower, and in particular the strong yellow really stands out in the evenings, but I have realised that it is spreading far too well and taking over. I’m not removing it completely from my garden, just getting it under control. My plan is to have them so that they look like a stream coming out from beneath my magnolia. I just need to ensure that the stream doesn’t become a river!
Regarding the hedge cutting, this year I have decided that it is time that the really tall conifer hedge needs a trim. My plan is to have this hedge trimmed every three to four years and as it is too tall for me to do I will be getting someone into do it for me. I am taking the opportunity to get some of the other hedges to a size that I will be able to maintain annually going forward.
