do you ever ditch plants

We have 4 lady banks roses beside our garage. They are beautiful for a few weeks out of the year and then they have to be constantly trimmed. I'm thinking of pulling them up to make room for a climbing rose that will bloom a lot more and for irises and spring bulbs. I'm feeling guilty about this. If only the lady banks were in a different location so they could go crazy. . .

I have the worst time parting with any plant, if it's not performing in the spot it's in I move it to where I think it will work better. One of the best things about DG is that we have Round Ups(plant or seed swaps) a couple times a year, so there's usually someone willing to take it.
You need to find a plant swap. Do you have Freecycle down there? If it's not diseased then I'd ask around first before chucking it.

They have been here for 11 years, so I don't think I could dig them up and ship them. They are probably 6 feet high x 4 feet wide. If we didn't trim them they would be over and on top of the roof--way out of hand. They are not the same as a regular rose bush. What I could do, however, is try and root some and then trade the babies. That would be more feasible. I doubt the big ones would live.

It is hard for me, but more and more I am realizing that there are so many plants that I adore and don't have room for, that it maybe isn't worth my time and energy trying to tend or nurse back to health things that I don't love. I want my efforts to go towards things that make me really thrilled when they are doing well.

I'm renovating the beds in the front of my house right now, and there are several azaleas in mis-matched colors that I want to get rid of. I feel weird about just tossing them, and keep asking friends if they want them, and no one does. And now I'm not getting my project done. I really need to find a swap or something!

They do sound a bit big to ship, but I bet you could find someone locally who would like them. You could advertise on Craigslist and see if someone wants to come and dig them up and take them, or post here on whatever regional forum there is appropriate for your area.

I also rip out plants sometimes when they get bigger than I thought or just aren't as nice as I thought they would be. I've always got a collection of plants on my deck that I can't find room for in the garden so if there are things that are underperforming I'll take them out to make room for the new things. I used to always give the plants away to friends when I pulled them out, but now I live in a quarantine zone for the light brown apple moth and can't give things away anymore so I don't "edit" the garden as much now since I'd just have to throw things away.

Are there any new neighborhoods or subdivisions in your area? A lot of people just starting out in a new home might be interested in free plants. If there is a neighborhood like that near you, maybe post a notice nearby?

Otherwise maybe try a town-owned building, like a school or library, or a community center?

Also check with Habitat for humanity and the master gardener program

I have a taker for the lady banks!

Cool. Always happier when plants go to a new home.