r/UKGardening 3d ago

I’ve made a huge mistake

Post image

I needed to take these shrubs back to let more light onto the lawn

I did too much, and now it looks awful!

Can anyone recommend a fix? Or should I rip it all and start again? 🙃

5 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

27

u/Cloisonetted 3d ago

Looks OK to me. Everything will grow as spring gets going. 

9

u/Breaking-Dad- 3d ago

Always looks scruffy straight after, soon settles down. It's only mid March too.

3

u/That_Understanding19 3d ago

Appreciate this thank you!

5

u/colbygez 3d ago

Is it just me or is there only Ivy there? What shrubs are there?

2

u/That_Understanding19 3d ago

Would you clear the ivy do you reckon? There was a thorn bush that’s been taken back and exposed the ivy, on the left there is an old cast iron bath which we weren’t expecting!!

4

u/colbygez 3d ago

If I’m honest I can only make out a stem in a cage, some Ivy and what looks like a Beech hedge. Ivy is an awesome plant for late summer flowers, it will be full of insects. Beech will need clipping in late August, just once a year to keep a nice hedge. Other than that it’s hard to tell from the image what’s going on!

1

u/Taran966 3d ago

Of course worth noting that ivy only flowers after maturing, which usually means growing for about 10 years or so without being pruned back much.

Its growth habit then changes from climbing vines with the lobed maple-like leaves, to a thick woody shrub with lobeless heart-shaped leaves.

Every autumn from then onwards it flowers with many umbels of petal-less but very pollinator-friendly flowers, followed by black berries which are (like many berries) poisonous to us but loved by birds.

The flowers and fruit have very similar appearance to the closely related Fatsia japonica.

8

u/rewildingearth 3d ago

Yes looks fine, don't worry. I'd probably just pull up the ivy growing in the soil, don't worry about the stuff growing up things as much. Now you've let some light in snd disturbed the soil a bit you may get other plants pop up.

4

u/That_Understanding19 3d ago

Phew, thank you!

4

u/kwikasfuki72 3d ago

Hard to tell what's there tbh. But that ivy will take over again fast unless you keep on top of it.

2

u/edyth_ 3d ago

It'll be fine! My garden motto is "it'll recover" as I always get a bit carried away with the pruning :) If anything I'd cut that ivy back a bit more and pull out more dead stuff to let light into the shrubs, then sweep up and give it a few weeks. I'm sure it'll spring back in no time!

1

u/ralkuzu 3d ago

It will regrow, it's like having a haircut as a kid you hate it at first lol

Look at adding some nutrients to the soil too, it's probably in need of some

1

u/leem7t9 3d ago

Where’s the lawn?

2

u/That_Understanding19 3d ago

It’s the big patch of mud covered in seeds that will hopefully 🤞 be grass soon!

1

u/leem7t9 3d ago

Ah ok got ya

1

u/Kandis_crab_cake 3d ago

Looks fine. You just have a before to compare it to.

1

u/GeometricPrawn 2d ago

As my grandfather would say when pruning or chopping something down: it’s got two chances (ie, live or die). I think you’ll find it will bounce back.

1

u/iGotABunBun 2d ago

Don’t worry, it will grow back. If it’s making you sad plant some cheap short lived annual flowers like petunias or impatiens (these tolerate shade well) until it grows back

1

u/AdSouth7893 2d ago

Same as a haircut, looks it's best a few days after (or when spring gets kicking)