The DIY picket fence story continues today with more prep work for the new fence. I really had no idea how much vegetation had to be dealt with along the fence line.
Some of it, of course, was obvious. Like this Rhododendron that has been growing through the fence for years. I dug and dug and dug on it, but I wanted to save it, and I was just about to give up when my neighbor helped to pull it out of it’s resting place. I moved it up by the porch, hoping it will be happy as a lark there and fill out nicely next Spring.
Those low hanging branches on the evergreen tree have also been dealt with.
You can’t really see it, but there is a holly bush in all that mess.
Here’s a better shot of it. After the fence was removed, I worked on removing four plants that were invading the holly bush. I intended to save the holly bush . . .
But I decided it would just be in the way of the new fence, so you can see it’s gone. The small ornamental tree was spared for now, but it had to be cut back on the left side.
On the back side, there was this huge lilac bush (left) and some peonies (right). I worked really hard to get that lilac bush dug up. I haven’t tackled the peonies yet—I don’t know where to transplant them.
Next up, we have this huge (almost dead tree).
I definitely needs to go.
Lucy (the visiting grand-dog) is checking out the cut up tree. Jamie and Andy left Lucy here while they were visiting for Thanksgiving. They will take her back home when they visit for Christmas.
You can see that the lattice pieces around the swing were very close to the fence, making it impossible to remove them with the old fence (and the new one) in place.
Several plants were left undisturbed, three small rose bushes, a clematis, small plants in two corners of the fence where you may have seen some lawn edging pieces.
After the fence was removed, I simply pushed over the old pieces. Their landscape timbers had rotted in the ground. After this picture was taken, I removed the two smaller sections as well.
Last week I told you about removing old chain link fence.
Next week I’ll tell you more details about how we are designing the new fence.
gail
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It is looking amazing Gail! I am so glad you are having good weather so far, I hope it keeps until you are done! I wish I could come and help! You can do it!!
Gail. It’s late, i know, but might help in the future. Instead of transplanting shrubbery, you can take cuttings, pull off the lower leaves, put rooting hormone on the stems and stick them in a pot outdoors in a sheltered spot where they will get rained on.
In spring, you should have a rooted cutting, which you pot up to plant next fall.
If you are paying for help in all this “destruction,” you can save plenty by just cutting down the big ugly stuff and putting weed killer on any roots left behind. Or use old motor oil. I’m trying bleach on the stubs this year. The most difficult part is getting the stumps cut low enough not to bother the lawn mower! But it’s doable and easier on the aging body than digging. (I’m soon having a little surgery to fix the damage from heavy yard labor!)
I am waiting to see what wonders you will perform on your place. It’s looking better already! I bet there will be Gail-designed yard furniture and a place for family gatherings. Here’s wishing you all good things on this fence and? project and a happy holiday season……MJ in NC
Holy smokes Gail, you all have been busy! I get it with plants and trying to save and/or transplant them. Here, in FL, ubiquitous saw palmettos are a common nemesis. If you trim them, they just send out roots and come up elsewhere and more of them. lol They are the first thing to come up in forest lands after a fire, they are that tenacious.
I love your lilac and peonies so I hope you are able to save them in another area. 🙂 Don’t forget to take good care of you too! :)) Wendi i so right! :))))
Christina,
thanks soooo much for your sweet comment. After years of neglect, it was definitely THE time to take care of all of this stuff. I know now that I must address “new” problems as they pop up. When stuff invades the fence row, it’s nearly impossible to deal with. 🙁
I’m trying to take care of myself, but during this busy time of year it’s difficult to keep up with everything–my tree isn’t even up yet.
gail
I KNOW you’ll be happy when you’re done with this project! Hang in there, it’s going to look fantastic & you’ll be so happy you tackled it!
Wendi,
I am happy already, but just hoping it gets done before COLD weather sets in. I don’t look forward to working when it’s in the 30’s.
I look forward to Spring when the lawn and plants bloom out…. that will make the fence look so much prettier.
gail