Annual Garden Clean-up

I pursued my annual garden clean-up earlier this week, employing the help of my favorite tree service company on a larger scale this year.  That was partly because of concerns about the possible threats posed by El Nino but also with my own recent physical limitations and the need to remove some very big and very dead plants.  I'll start with the easiest stuff involving the usual pruning activities, beginning with the front garden.

The Agonis flexuosa (aka peppermint willows) and Arbutus 'Marina' (aka strawberry trees) all got pruned.  There are 6 of the former and 4 of the latter scattered throughout the garden.

The Pyrus calleryana (aka ornamental pear tree), shown here next to another peppermint willow, also got its annual trim

Ditto with the tree-sized Leptospermum 'Copper Glow' shrubs

The Magnolia grandiflora also got its annual chop

What's not apparent in this photo featuring more peppermint willows is that those were formerly surrounded by 2 Cercis occidentalis (aka western redbuds).  They came with the garden but I got tired of their suckering behavior.

This is the largest of my 4 Arbutus

The Prunus ilicifolia hedge (aka cherry laurel) was neatened up 

Callistemon 'Cane's Hybrid' was taken down a peg and and thinned out too

This noID Ceanothus received a much needed trim

I've learned that a hard annual pruning of the strawberry trees is necessary to open their canopies and prevent the development of sooty mildew on their leaves

The back slope got a considerable attention, although it may not be evident in these photos.  I had 3 large artichoke plants removed to prevent regrowth; 2 huge Pittosporum 'Silver Sheen' shrubs were severe pruned; and the lemon tree got cleaned up.  The area needs a lot more work but I'll pick that up when I can.

The most painful actions involved two of the larger plant removals, both of which required digging out stumps.  I don't have "before" shots for either so you'll have to take my word that both plants were dead to start with.

My once gorgeous and very large Leucadendron salignum 'Chief' died after 16 years in the garden.  The best thing I can say is that its removal made Leucadendron 'Ebony' (shown in the photo on the left) more visible.  The surrounding succulents also have a better chance to shine.

The noID lime tree that came with the garden also died.  I've no plans to replace it with another citrus tree but I've been considering a crape myrtle (mainly because I've wanted one for a long time).

My husband helped me with two smaller projects we handled without the tree service.

We pruned the Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku', just now showing some fall color

He pruned the a sad Feijoa sellowiana (aka pineapple guava) down to 3 feet in height in the hope that it'll rebound

Two dying and very heavy stalks of Agave desmettiana 'Variegata' were removed by the tree service.  As I cleared some of the remaining debris left behind late this week, I discovered three more agaves are throwing up bloom stalks following the path of the Agave 'Joe Hoak' I'd discovered a few weeks ago.

This is another shot of 'Joe Hoak', already much bigger

This is Agave capensis, which I got from the Huntington as a very small plant in October 2015

And these are 2 more Agave desmettiana 'Variegata' I planted as pups of my original plant when it bloomed many years ago

At least I can expect these agaves to take their time early next year before they're ready for removal!

Even with all the help I got with garden clean-up this year, I've recognized that I have a LOT more work to do before my garden is more fully presentable.  But I'm going to try to be reasonable with myself about what and how fast I can get those additional jobs done.  It's times like this I rather wish we got a real winter break...

All material © 2012-2026 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party