Clearing Brambles and Overgrowth

It’s time to start clearing overgrowth, deadwood, weeds, etc.  These photos were taken during the dead of winter.

A major area that requires pruning is a climbing rose given to me as a cutting by my neighbor Marilene years ago.  The small, pink climbing rose is pretty, but it quickly turned into thorny brambles that I wasn’t expecting.  It grows like a weed and roots everywhere it touches soil.  I need to cut it back and train it to grow where I want it.

In addition, Passion Flower vines have traveled underground and sprouted up throughout the garden.  I want to save some of these, but many have died in the last freeze and they must be removed.  At any case, they need to be cut back.

 

Update 1/24/2017

The photo to the left was taken from behind the chiminea.  I usually let this corner of the garden grow a little wild.  Garden lore says that if you let a small space in the garden grow wild, “the fairies” will live there and make your garden grow lavishly!

If that’s true, the fairies should be delighted.  This area is so overgrown at this point that the lines of the labyrinth can’t be seen.  There is much to clear.

However, there is some St. Augustine grass that has grown into the beds.  I need to leave that so that I can move it in the spring.  Also, leaves must be left in the beds to insulate the ground from the cold.  There is also another major climbing rose planted in this area.  Everything else can be removed.

Update 1/27/2017

I pulled down the deadwood from a multi-trunk ornamental tree in the corner.

Update 2/12/2017

I removed much of the excess at the end of January.  I took photos today.  We’ve had a few warm days here, and the roses have begun to show leaves.  I need to finish that project before the leaves become thick.

This is the same arbor as the first photo above.  I basically cleared all the dead stems.  Now I have to tame them.

The next two photos are (1) taken from behind the chiminea, showing the same area as the second photo in this post, and (2) the area directly to the right of it, which has also been cleared.  What remains are “volunteer” trees, which will have to be dug out by the roots.

 

 

 

 

 

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Oak Tree Overgrowing Labyrinth Path

It’s hard to tell because of the autumn leaves, but the labyrinth path is between the bricks and the white wickets. The foliage bed is to the right of the white wickets. This photo shows that the tree is encroaching on the path from the left, and the bush is overgrowing the path from the right. The path of a labyrinth should be free and clear for the one walking it.  The overgrowth illustrates the reason I am re-designing the labyrinth at this time. This happens with a living labyrinth.

This tree was about one inch diameter when it was planted.  The labyrinth had to be built around it.  I have re-built its brick edging at least twice, but it’s time to enlarge it again.

The last time I enlarged it, the brick edging was evenly spaced around the tree.  The oak trunk has grown mostly to one side so that it is flush against the bricks and dislodging them, plus pushing up from under the brick.

Accommodating this tree is a key factor in creation of the new design.

The tree has grown, primarily on this side, pushing against the brick.

I have brushed the leaves aside to show the tree base and roots growing out from under the bricks.

 

 

 

 

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