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New House New Garden

Forester_PeteForester_Pete Posts: 155
in Plants
Well other half and I finally moved from the Forest after 20 years and have a bit of a project in North Devon now.

Garden can be described as once loved, but not recently..  lots of big shrubs and a few trees will need removing completely but will need time and dry weather.. and the new kitchen built first I am told..

Hope the photos work, no broadband yet so doing this on the phone and don't know how to resize them.

Back garden from upstairs window.


The huge hydrangea in the foreground will have to go as will the evergreen; Camelia perhaps? As they obscure the view from the house. Most of the trees too, a Norway Maple, some willows and Blackthorn.

This is creeping over the oil tank? Not sure what it is? But it may need to be contained.

Another plant that will have to go is a bamboo clump. How does one get rid of it? The location is probably going to be a paved work area between the shed and greenhouse once I build them so needs to be completely removed.


Front garden, not sure what to do with it yet but the spikey thing will not last..


Can't wait to get out to measure up and start making a plan, but must make the house habitable first.. will post some further ID questions in due course I am sure.
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  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,436
    New Year, new project ! That climber over the oil tank looks a bit like a eucalyptus,  but l don't think it is. I envy you your new project - good luck.  :)
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,160
    Oil tank plant might be Clematis armandii.
    Bamboo needs dynamite or a digger
    Glad the spiky thing won't last, thy look so out of place in most gardens.
    Looks a great project :) 


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,189
    An exciting project FP, but challenging. Firstly, are you planning to move the greenhouse? It's right in the middle! probably because that gets the most sun. The camellia looks like it was planted to hide it from the house. It would be such a shame to remove it, as it has gorgeous flowers, is evergreen so a good hideout for birds. It could probably be pruned to reduce it's bulk. The trees I agree with you could be removed, Norway Maples in particular can grow huge as we know to our cost. The climber thingy on the oil tank looks like an evergreen Clematis 'Armandii'. It's again rather a choice plant with white flowers in May? and beautifully scented. Can be pruned to keep it within bounds (with secateurs not a hedge cutter!).  The bamboo removal is going to be a tough job, I would cut it all down to the ground, then try digging it all out - with pickaxe and crowbar if need be, bit by bit. Even then you will probably find runners coming up for a year or two.

    In the front garden the spikey thing is probably a chusan palm tree and not very pretty much of the time - hook it out, the roots are shallow and it's comparatively easy if a bit heavy. Other than that, hopefully you will find some bulbs coming up soon and there may be other perennial plants hiding, so you may prefer to wait and see for a bit.

    Good luck with your plans, do keep us posted of progress.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Forester_PeteForester_Pete Posts: 155
    Greenhouse will be moved yes up to the top right corner which will free up the view from conservatory and kitchen window. 

    The Camelia looks like it is about to flower, will see if it can be saved but reduced.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,189
    Just thought to say, if you have a camellia growing like that, then you have probably got acid soil, which is not so good for veggies I understand. Some raised beds for them might be an idea. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,027
    Quite a lot of veggies (and fruit) are tolerant of acid soil - and some actually need it, such as blueberries and cranberries.  Plus it's much easier to make a section of your garden more alkaline by adding lime, than to make it more acid... so you shouldn't have problems growing good veg.  
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,173
    Hi,
    You could try some hardwood cuttings from the hydrangea .... nothing to lose.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • Forester_PeteForester_Pete Posts: 155
    There is a Rhododendron too hiding from the photos. There are some raised beds too so looking forward to rejuvinating them.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 21,735

    I was planning what to say as I scrolled down but Lizzie said it all better than I could! Please give the camellia a chance, but get rid of the bamboo and the spiky palm. I would keep the lawn, I like a bit of grass.

    New kitchen will be exciting, I'm looking forward to mine arriving mid January.

    Looking forward to future photos of your garden.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Forester_PeteForester_Pete Posts: 155
    Will leave it alone until it has flowered for sure and then see if it can be reduced enough to route a path between it and the pond.

    Don't have any dynamite for the bamboo but will start with chainsaw and mattock..
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