My friend has a lovely garden but it's mostly green shrubbery -- rhodos,
dogwood, cotoneaster, euphorbia, and invasive clumps of lemon-scented mint.
The garden lacks colour, and she want perennials and bulbs.

She's asked me to prune back a lot of the big shrubs, and also dig out the
clumps of euphorbia and mint, and generally tidy up the borders.

My question is -- is now a good time to clear the garden and plant
perennials and bulbs (but then having to face a winter of looking at bare
earth)? Or should I wait until spring to clear things, but then lose a
season or two of good growth?

Thanks

"Janice" wrote in message ...
My friend has a lovely garden but it's mostly green shrubbery -- rhodos,
dogwood, cotoneaster, euphorbia, and invasive clumps of lemon-scented mint.
The garden lacks colour, and she want perennials and bulbs.

She's asked me to prune back a lot of the big shrubs, and also dig out the
clumps of euphorbia and mint, and generally tidy up the borders.

My question is -- is now a good time to clear the garden and plant
perennials and bulbs (but then having to face a winter of looking at bare
earth)? Or should I wait until spring to clear things, but then lose a
season or two of good growth?

No time like the present: I'd do it now. And there's no need to have
totally bare earth, as container-grown perennials can be planted out
whenever you get them.

Can I put in a plea for the native wild daffodil? They spread nicely
once they're settled.

Mike.

In article , Mike Lyle
writes

No time like the present: I'd do it now. And there's no need to have
totally bare earth, as container-grown perennials can be planted out
whenever you get them.

Can I put in a plea for the native wild daffodil? They spread nicely
once they're settled.

But they're very difficult to get hold of! You don't find them in the
average GC. Wildflower places have them at a price, or a few specialist
bulb growers.

--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm