Hello all.

Firstly an introduction as I'm going to have a number of questions over
time!!
I have this house which could have a really nice garden. It used to be a
show garden and in pristine condition according to the neighbours, but this
is before the previous owners neglected it for a few years!! I haven't done
much either as I was concentrating on the inside, but I have set myself the
challenge to get the place looking nice over the next 2 years. This
includes tasks such as digging out the pond and replacing the liner,
creating a bog garden next to it, building an arch with a rope latice to go
the width of the garden (don't ask!) to go over the rockery and alpine patch
in the front, new fencing, new lawn, decking (I'm reading the threads on
that!) - just about everything in fact. And I have very little experience
with gardens, this being my first. I do know it will take time

I have a tree that needs a bit of pruning - it's a little bit big but looks
great when it flowers. I say a tree - I have no idea what else you would
call it!!

How can I identify it? And when I know that, what is the best way to treat
it??
The leaves are similar to leaves from an oak tree. The flowers are purple
and quite large - about 2" across maybe. The petals are 'floppy' if that
makes any sense - similar to those white flowers you get on the creeping
weeds - they twist as they unfurl. I also have another smaller tree of the
same type but with white flowers. The mature tree is about 8' tall, and
'flat' against a wall, spreading out fan shaped.

So how best to treat them? Thanks a lot for any advice

David.