New To Me Landscaping

I've purchased a home in an area that is new to me gardening-wise. The new landscaping thing is always interesting. I can't identify the majority of the plants and I don't know what will grow there.

A scraggly plant in the back yard just burst out in fuzzy catkins and I think it is a ***** willow. So, now I know how to trim that one. http://hdlifeflower.com/hoa-da-pha-le-c35t2.html

A hedge of something that looks deciduous but has remained green is overgrowing the driveway, so that has to be brutally trimmed back, no matter what it turns out to be. It's a nice looking hedge, whatever it is.

A wildly out of control small tree in the front has what looks like cherry tree bark. I am eager to see what sort of leaves come up on that one.

I know that one of the shrubs is a hydrangea. I know how to care for that. I can also see that a hydrangea will grow well, so I plan to add a few more of those.

I recognize a seven foot tall fuschia. I had no idea they could get that big. It is using a mystery shrub as a trellis. I love fuschias, and I am pretty sure I can grow some more from cuttings.

Half the fun is trying to figure out what the plants are so I can decide whether to keep them, remove them, or move them to a new location.

At least landscaping on this place isn't nearly as bad as on most new places where plants have been plopped down with no concern about balance or how big the plant will grow.

(Okey dokey, then, I can't say that word. It's a baby kitty cat willow with the fuzzy catkins)



This message was edited Mar 1, 2015 8:46 AM

You can post threads in the plant ID forum to get some help figuring out what the plants are.
Take several pictures of each plant: Stand back and get the whole plant, and get close ups of leaves, flowers, fruit, twigs, bark or anything else that could help with ID. Giving us some idea about sun or shade, and if any part is fragrant can help, too.

There are several willows with that common name, most are large shrubs or might be trained as small trees.

I would NOT cut, remove or Brutalise any of your plants untill you have some form of identification re what they are and best time to prune, hack, remove or whatever, some evergreen hedges dont take HARSH pruning as they dont regrow from the brown wood, IF you chop into one of those hedges, you will end up looking at brown bare stems and branches, not a pretty sight believe me.

It could well be some of your Fuschias are more likely the hardy type and as you say, easy to take cuttings from. the best time to take cuttings is early spring just as new buds are showing on any bare stems, cut the stems, remove the bottom 3-4 inches of leaves, stick the stems in the soil and water, choose a slightly shaded area for the cuttings to grow roots, about 3 months should be enough time for roots to show. you can also prune the Fuschia , remove any crossed branches as they damage the other crossed branches, I like to prune lightly for large shrubs, and more often till you get the shrub under control.

Do as Diana has suggested and send in pictures of your plants you need ID for, give pictures also of overall garden size, light, shade etc. I know lots of gardeners on here who love the challenge of identifying plants and are mostly correct, BUT also the ID forum are great too.
Hope you get the names and be patient before you cut or chop anything as plants take years to mature, it's sad when they are hacked down and then the new owner has to spend a lot of money replacing or filling the gap left. Only giving my experience but it's your garden, just learn to work with some things you have.
Best Of Luck and Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.