Nips and Tucks...

Once again its HOT! This is going to be a recurring theme in the next few weeks btw. I have to say, its not really the heat that gets to me, but the high humidity is a killer! In any case, on to what i really wanted to talk about today which is changes.
Gardens arent static. By their nature theyre always changing, sometimes its the regular progression of one thing following another when it has finished its cycle, veges being harvested and pulled out to make way for the next crop. Sometimes though, its a more dramatic change, perhaps caused by natural causes like a big storm, or a fire. But sometimes its planned change by the gardener. By their nature, most gardeners are tinkerers, always making improvements and changing colours, putting this with that, then changing it round the next year. All this is a really roundabout way to get to some changes that im looking at making.

The Puka

When we moved here there was an existing  Puka tree in the back yard. Its not a big yard, and the tree, while not particularly big, dominates the area totally. At the time we thought we could live with it, but over the years several cons have come to mind. The huge dropped leaves are a pain to have to pick up (so i have to admit i dont). Also this past winter there were some pretty heavy winds and the back of the tree has lost a big branch which has unbalanced it quite a lot.
My major problem with it though, is that as its an evergreen like most natives, and it has very dense foliage with huge leaves, the shade it throws is totally dense too, even in the winter, so im seriously considering removing it altogether.
Id still love to have a tree there, but preferably something that isnt quite so heavy, that can throw lighter shade, especially in summer but opens up in winter ie: something deciduous. An apple or plum tree or other fruit tree would work well i think, as it has to be something that can be restricted in height to about the size of the Puka now. I might even wait a couple of years and plant the Aprigold there. Its in a pot now but its supposed to get to 3m and it has lovely foliage.

The Punga

Another tree that is definitely in for the chop is the Punga up against the house. The problem here is its just too big, as its up above the eaves of the house and is pushing on, and fouling the guttering. Its also dropping huge dead fronds everywhere, one of which narrowly missed me one day, and took a few hours off my life! I know you can remove the fronds before they die off and fall, but lets be honest, i have NO way of getting up to the height required to do that, and if i tried id probably kill meself! Its also hanging over the ramp and increasing the slippery factor considerably, however due to its size and its position, right against the house and also right in front of one of my garden beds, removing it is definitely a job for the professionals, and hopefully we will soon have the job done. Due to Xmas and New Years i havent done anything about it yet but in the next week or so ill be getting some quotes. While i actually love it, its really just a matter of it being in the wrong place, and after discussing it with the landlord (the OHs mum) were in agreement that it has to go.
The upside of this is ofc, a new area of garden bed opened up which ill have to fill.....its a tough job but someone has to do it!
The other main area that i want to do some work on is in the front of the house. Most of the front yard is fenced in with a solid fibrolite fence where the dogs spend their time but there is one little triangular bit thats left over on the corner. Its very hot and dry, but im thinking it would suit roses beautifully. Atm theres still a lot of to-ing and fro-ing there as the new heating system has a tank on that side of the house but once thats all finished i can get stuck in. Its a pretty big job though, There are some defunct beds along the fence, but theyre waist deep in kikuyu, so even clearing them could be a major, but well see. You never know whats under there until you get into it. It would be lovely to have some more room though, as i have PLENTY of ideas as to what i can get to fill it lol, particularly with roses. Likse most gardeners with a favourite plant, i have a very long wish list ;)