On 2013-12-12 09:16:04 +0000, Jeff Layman said:

On 12/12/2013 00:20, Frank Booth wrote:
A neighbour planted a Viburnum Tinus in a narrow raised bed which is
basically a double 4' wall with a hollow area used for planting on top. At
the moment it's overrun with Muscari, and at one end is this very healthy
lookung Viburnum Tinus full of pink bud. The viburnum is about 2' tall so
it's a young shrub. He asked me how to improve the look of the bed as it
currently looks a mess with all the Muscari leaves. I suggested Aubtretia,
Iberis and a few other alpine types. I then mentioned that his Viburnum was
planted in the wrong place and needed to be moved as its potential height
and spread is 8'. He was insistent on leaving it in there asking could it
not be pruned sufficiently each year to keep ot at its current size. I
pointed out that it was possible but the roots would spread and possibly
damage his wall.

So, is my neighbour ok leaving the shrub in this bed or should it be moved?

One thing which might be possible is to dig up the Viburnum and put it
in pot, then replace it in the raised bed. This would have the effect
of acting like a bonsai planting by restricting the roots, and so
keeping topgrowth down. Your neighbour would have to be pretty
rigorous about watering it in dry spells, though!

This may kill two birds with one stone. You mentioned that the bed is
overrun with muscari, and he wants to improve its appearance. Do you
know just /how/ difficult it will be to get rid of the muscari?! You
can try spraying it with glyphosate, but you'll need to do it several
times and it will probably take more than a year to kill it all off.
And if you think you can just dig it up and take out the bulbs, think
again! The damn bulbs have dozens of tiny bulbs attached to them,
which break off and fall all over the place at the slightest
disturbance, ready to make a new flowering-size bulb in a couple of
years. I speak from experience, having tried to get muscari out of a
raised peat bed! It might be best to remove all the soil from the bed
to a depth of at least 9 inches, and dump it at the bottom of a very
deep compost heap, or offer it to someone who has a lot of pond plants
to pot up. The bulbs won't survive immersion in water.

Viburnum tinus can be used as a hedge and can be kept to the required
size. But the roots could be a problem in that situation. I suppose
you could point out to him, in a friendly spirit, that if there's
damage to the wall, he'll have to be the one that repairs it. I'm not
sure where you are but if the soil is sufficiently well-drained and the
position sunny enough etc. he could grow lavender more successfully in
terms of size and colour, or depending on location, rosemary. I can't
imagine why anyone would want to get rid of Muscari, myself! But
Cerastium tomentosum (aka Snow In Summer) would probably do well and
it's pretty rampant. It also has a long flowering season. And how about
looking at Erigeron karvinskianus.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk