Time to clip, prune and re-shape

Another hot week at Heale and we mainly stuck to clipping, summer pruning and keeping unruly plants in control! We worked on some large Ligustrum delavayanum at the front of the house which grows so quickly it needs re-shaping fairly regularly. An unrecognisable shape to bouncy curves. A lot of fun clipping until you get there especially using hand shears, I find it a slow and relaxing process quite creative in its way.

The results were great! A huge difference in look.

We also trimmed and clipped young Hornbeam into shape, formally planted along the terraces of the Miscanthus borders. A case of keeping in line with the wall and choosing a height to work to. As Michael taught me, the plant should bunch out and want to fill the space we have left.

Thinking about what you are doing to the plant is so important, making sure the cut is right, right point to the node, clean and making sure you understand why, the plant will concentrate energy on growing better and not waste energy on unruly re-growth. Very easy to just clip away and forget the purpose of the task in hand. Especially when faced with a jungle of plants atop a ladder and you are face up against it! 

You squeeze your way through a narrow opening amongst the plants and you pop up amongst a mass of stems.

We worked with Wisteria (sinensis and floribunda), Vitis (brant and vinifera 'Purpurea') and Laburnum  (x watereri 'Vossii') on the pergola in the veg garden. It seems so daunting but once you get going it becomes easier. Summer pruning involves shortening lengthy re-growth, again allowing the plant energy, in the case of the Vitis, to plump up those delicious grapes that have been hiding under leaves.

I am thankfully getting more used to the ladder, practice makes perfect.

We had a run in with the sheep this week too and helped to give them medicine and watched the farmer at work. One dear old thing has a bell round her neck which dings all day long as she feeds, they are lovely creatures, their wool all bouncy and soft. I have a real affection for them.

I noticed the Ipomea 'Heavenly Blue' has flowered (at the bottom of its archway not the top but hey ho) and it is a great colour, quite unlike the rest of the garden

The Zinnia and Cosmos are in full flow now

The japanese garden is a cool space, a relief from the sun with the sound of the river trickling along.

We also have to keep on top of watering of course, we set the sprinkler on the veg and we watered the tons of pots around and about. Visitors love to chat and they first and foremost ask how many of us Gardeners there are. Then they cannot quite believe how much there is to do! There certainly is a lot and it takes a calm approach to achieve it all, Michael has that. I am really enjoying being part of the process and watching it all happening.