help me help my garden?!

[bonbon]

Hi. I am new to gardening. I don't know what almost any of the plants are in my garden so am probably not very good at looking after them. I am currently attempting to build a pond to encourage wildlife - (with an enormous amount of help from the lovely people on WAB!). I was wondering what these plants are and if they are good for wildlife. if so - how can i look after them? They are looking a bit straggly and sad. If not - what should i do? I also have two quite sad looking apple trees. The cherry tree - if thats what it is - is apparentley diseased - how do i tell if this is he case? Oh its a world of confusion!!! here are some pics. I'd love some help. Thanks guys!! bonbon

[Hedge Witch]

Hi bonbon,

Number 5 is a flowering currant I think, and there is some advice here:
Ornamental Cuurant

I love the smell of this plant

Number 3 is a Buddleia and can be cut right back at this time of year. Fairly indestructible, you can be really, really severe with the pruning, and delay this depending on when you want it to flower (the later you prune, the later it flowers, I pruned mine about two weeks ago though).

Number 6 might be a Cotoneaster and if so, will have great benefit to birds and insects.

Number 2 does look like a cherry, but I'll leave this and the rest to a more experienced member.

PS All these plants are providing plenty of valuable cover for birds and other wildlife - I love the look of all that foliage.

[kiltoncomp]

Hi, you have some nice shrubs there, which with a little care should make a great display, and as Hedgewitch says will be good for the wildlife as well,

No1 is , I think, a hypericum
No2 cherry? Try pruning the lower branches at first
No3 is as hedgewitch says a buddleia and needs hard pruning now
No4 could be a fuscia or spiraea, cant really tell without leaves from the pic
No5 is again as hedgewitch says a ribes
No6 is I think a viburmum
No7 cant remember what this one is??
No8 or this one either ??
No9 like no4 it could be fuscia or spiraea or similar
No 10 is a ceanothus which shoul soon be producing some blue flowers

There is a small book , available at most garden centres which you would find very usefull ,for identification, pruning,, and general care of your shrubs,
It is from the expert series by Dr.D.G. Hessayon – “ the tree and shrub expert” well worth the small cost ,


Brian.

[marvin]

hi

my guesses would be:

1 agree with hypericum
2 agree with cherry
3 very dificult to tell but could be an elder
4 agree with buddleja
5 agree with flowering currant
6 looks like a cotoneaster
7 aqualegia or thalictrum aqualegiifolium
8 spirea japonica 'goldflame'
9 dogwood?
10 agree with ceanothus

cheers
tim

[ron1863]

I would prune all the Cherry tree's branches below the level of the fence to encourage some growth on top. The lower branches seem to be pushing against the fence anyway.

[Tursiops2]

I'm largely, but not entirely, in agreement with the above.

My take on these:
1. Hypericum. Wildlife value: negligible, but good ground cover.

2. Probably an ornamental cherry, but can't be sure. Does it have lots of blossom in Spring? Wildlife value: variable, depends on variety/species.

3. Buddleia. Wildlife value: good for butterflies and bees, needs pruning as recommended.

5. Flowering Currant. Wildlife value: good, important source of nectar for early bees.

6. I'm pretty sure this is a Viburnum. Does it have thorns? Wildlife value: both Viburnum and Cotoneaster produce berries for birds.

7 and 8. I don't know these.

10. Cotoneaster, I think. Does it have thorns? Wildlife value: as above.

4 and 9. Could be anything, can't really tell without flowers/leaves.

There's nothing among that lot that obviously needs to come out, but a lot of hefty pruning needs doing. Not my field unfortunately, hopefully someone else will advise you on that.

T2

[bonbon]

Thanks so much i will try to get better pics of some of them. Have been pruning in a real scardey cat kind of way all day. I think I should probably have been a bit more fierce! so scared of killing things! Thanks again. Yes T2 the cherry did have a lot of blossom last spring. dropped off ever so quickly. Thanks guys!

[Geoff F]

If it isn't too late to say this; do not prune an ornamental cherry tree now as winter pruning can make it susceptible to Silver Leaf Disease. I lost my tree because of this, so did my neighbour.

Keep pruning to a minimum and do it during dry weather after flowering, when disease spores will be less of a problem. If possible, paint a wound sealant over any cuts.

[bonbon]

Thanks geoff f. I appreciate that. no I haven't done anything to it so far. My neighbour claims it is diseased anyway. How would i tell, what are the signs? Thanks again. bonbon

[bonbon]

Thanks hedgewitch. Great name by the way!