Shall I keep my cotoneaster?
I have a cotoneaster, I think it's horizontalis, which came with the house. It's not a plant for which I have strong feelings for or against. It's grown much bigger since I moved here, and spreads about 5 or 6 feet by 3 or 4, and no more than a few inches high. Any day now I shall dig it out as I'm re-arranging that part of the garden. I have lots of wooden fence which I'm gradually covering with shrubs and climbers. If I planted the cotoneaster at the foot of the fence and tied it to the horizontal supporting cables which I've fixed there, would it consent to grow upwards?
It's said to be a valuable food plant for birds, but I've never seen birds eat my berries. When birds do eat them, they poop out the seeds in random locations, and I know the rangers on a nearby NT site have an endless struggle to control it. I'm half inclined to put it in the garden waste bag.
Another option would be to plant it in the park where I'm a volunteer gardener. Or offer it on Freecycle or the Green Plant Swap.
Could you help me decide?
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To be honest I'm not getting a sense of much enthusiasm for it! I would offer it on Freecycle or Plantswap - you could get something interesting in return!
IF IT'S THAT BIG IT WON'T MOVE SATISFACTORILY.
AS YOU SAY, THEY ARE PROLIFIC SEEDERS.
YES, THEY GROW VERY WELL ON VERTICAL WALLS. I HAVE ONE ABOUT TEN FEET HIGH BY FIFTEEN ACROSS AND ABOUT A FOOT DEEP.
IT'S COVERED IN BEES WHEN IN FLOWER BUT IS NOT TOO POPULAR WITH THE BIRDS AS FOOD BUT I HAVE HAD SEVERAL BLACKBIRD NESTS IN IT.
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
I transplanted it to the park this morning. The other volunteers were pleased with it.
Great stuff, here's hoping it grows okay
It's been pouring with rain all night so it's been well watered in!