tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615100786320943903.post5601333439969461827..comments2024-03-27T19:59:56.174-07:00Comments on Succulents and More™: Garden bulliesGerhard Bock (Succulents and More)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583583634141549759noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615100786320943903.post-24582384325875373722011-09-05T13:09:14.299-07:002011-09-05T13:09:14.299-07:00M&G, your sycamore sounds like a delightful tr...M&G, your sycamore sounds like a delightful tree. Just kidding. The Bradford pear we had in the spot now occupied by the Bambusa oldhamii had the same aphid problem. The mess it left on the flagstone walkway was horrible. But cutting down a mature tree is a hard decision because nothing will replace it overnight...<br /><br />Our miscanthus were upright until a few weeks ago. I don't know why they flopped over all of a sudden. Maybe the leaves finally got too heavy.<br /><br />I will drastically reduce the clumps this winter.Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17583583634141549759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615100786320943903.post-87523605987974873162011-09-05T03:56:23.392-07:002011-09-05T03:56:23.392-07:00We have several 'bullies' here but I'd...We have several 'bullies' here but I'd say it is the massive tree down at the bottom of our garden that annoys me the most, Acer pseudoplatanus. It harbours so many aphids every spring, which drips sticky say anything under it, consequently attracting fungus which makes the sticky leaves go sooty in appearance (Sigh!). And it self seeds all over the place too (double sigh!). It needs a tree surgeon to sort it out though.<br /><br />For a clumping plant they do have a wide spread these grasses. Might be worth lifting and dividing these clumps more often than usual to keep them tidy. The divisions make lovely give aways though!<br /><br />I must say those do look attractive in your garden!Mark and Gazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09427245730390252976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615100786320943903.post-31192119771350119582011-09-02T13:48:16.166-07:002011-09-02T13:48:16.166-07:00Alan, I'd love some sort of support that isn&#...Alan, I'd love some sort of support that isn't visible. We've tried rope before but it looked too ugly. Maybe I'll severely reduce the root ball so the plants are much smaller next year. <br /><br />The Silberpfeil is about 5 ft tall by 6 ft wide, I'd say. But yours will take a few years to get there. It would be stunning if it had enough room. <br /><br />The Mexican bush sage was mowed down by frost in the winter and I cut it down the ground but it always comes back strong. I do love it so I won't remove it entirely, just a bunch of stems where I don't want them.Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17583583634141549759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1615100786320943903.post-58824216963768649012011-09-02T04:24:43.759-07:002011-09-02T04:24:43.759-07:00I think I grow *only* bullies. ;-)
Before removin...I think I grow *only* bullies. ;-)<br /><br />Before removing the Miscanthus bullies, have you thought about a support of some sort to keep them upright? Something like you see for Peonies, but possibly larger. Although it's tempting to replace all of the "bad" instances with the one you have that's behaving, it may not look great. There are many smaller Miscanthus cultivars that would work better for you possibly.<br /><br />I didn't realize ‘Silberpfeil’ would get so large. The division you gave me will probably need to be moved in a couple of years.<br /><br />Finally, the Mexican sage. Have you considered cutting it all the way back to just a couple of inches tall? The plant that I overwintered in my garage the other year had no remaining top growth but came back strong. If you do this, take several cuttings as insurance -- you'll get a large plant just from a rooted cutting by the end of the year.<br /><br /><br />___________________________<br /><a href="http://www.itsnotworkitsgardening.com" rel="nofollow">It's not work, it's gardening!</a><br />.Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13393082652312828458noreply@blogger.com