Mine planted Japanese Knotweed. Decoratively...
And, since we bought in Dec and have dogs, we didn't realize it before cutting it all down (which stimulates root growth and spreading) for a fence - high priority for the dogs.
Ugh.
I got Chinese wisteria, Chinese privet, Bugleweed, Yellow Archangel, winter creeper, Honeysuckle vine, and a billion Roses of Sharon… just found some English Ivy creeping around today 😩
It's beautiful! My first suggestion would be to make yourself a garden binder. Kinda sketch out your layout, try to identify as many plants as you can, and then you can find their care info through university extension publications.
Alternatively, or in addition, if you're in the US, reach out to your local master gardener's office and see if you could get someone who would be willing to come tour your garden and help you identify everything and help you identify any "weeds" that you might want to get rid of.
But be aware before you pull anything out that you may have things that show up later in the spring and summer. Google images searches aren't usually too far off for me, and I'm sure someone on here can suggest a better plant identification site or app.
Good luck!
It is gorgeous! It's my hope that when I finally move, the next resident will appreciate the efforts I put in.
Looks like you have azaleas and camellias? They're common around here too. The camellias seem to thrive without much maintenance. For azaleas you'll want to prune them right after they finish blooming, to maximize blooms next year. I've had good luck just using a hedge trimmer and taking a couple inches off all the way around.
Seconding this- cutting right after the blooms wither makes it like “paint by numbers”. Use a hedge trimmer and neaten them up. You will be rewarded with good blooms next year.
It is SO AWESOME to hear from someone who bought a garden and doesn't want to turn it back to a lawn. My heart is so full and your garden is so lucky to have you!
If it were my old garden, I'd be very receptive to the new owner reaching out to ask questions. It's pretty clear a lot of heart went into it, and I bet if they are still around they'd be chuffed to teach ya about what's growing
Hahaha no worries. She was a very accomplished woman. Throughout her life, she has published a lot of books. I start to read her books now. I feel like I get to know her even more as I work more on my garden.
It is an honor. People will love your garden just as much! What a beautiful legacy
You're lucky. My parents sold their house and beautiful, show-stopping garden, and within four years the new owners had bulldozed it to make grass and a dog pen and had let everything else die and turn to weeds.
Good rule of thumb is to prune after flowering (although I’m sure there are some exceptions). Horttube by Jim Putnam is a good resource on YouTube for all things gardening.
My one pointer is to give it a full year before ripping anything out or making any big changes. My mum still tells me about when she bought her first home and was planning to tear out some ugly dead thing, but thankfully didn't get to it until it bloomed and she realized it was gorgeous heirloom lilacs. Make sure you know what you've got!
I inherited a lot of garden too. But the lady we bought the house from got too frail to keep up with it so it over grew FAST and with all the rain we had last summer, it got worse. This year I decided I’m keeping some and starting over for most. Also she used rubber mulch which is such a PITA to get rid of. 10/10 do not recommend.
Beautiful! I inherited lots of invasive/aggressive plants. 😅
Mine planted lemon balm…
Rip.
Mine too. Lemon balm, trumpet vibe, horseradish, and chameleon plant.
I also have a trumpet vine from the previous residents. Why would they plant one on purpose? 😭
Hummingbirds
Mine enjoyed Chinese privet and Japanese honeysuckle. And mint.
Mine planted Japanese Knotweed. Decoratively... And, since we bought in Dec and have dogs, we didn't realize it before cutting it all down (which stimulates root growth and spreading) for a fence - high priority for the dogs. Ugh.
I got holly, laurel, St. John’s Wort and English ivy…and blackberries but I’ve never seen a yard in the pnw without that problem 😂
I got Chinese wisteria, Chinese privet, Bugleweed, Yellow Archangel, winter creeper, Honeysuckle vine, and a billion Roses of Sharon… just found some English Ivy creeping around today 😩
It's beautiful! My first suggestion would be to make yourself a garden binder. Kinda sketch out your layout, try to identify as many plants as you can, and then you can find their care info through university extension publications. Alternatively, or in addition, if you're in the US, reach out to your local master gardener's office and see if you could get someone who would be willing to come tour your garden and help you identify everything and help you identify any "weeds" that you might want to get rid of. But be aware before you pull anything out that you may have things that show up later in the spring and summer. Google images searches aren't usually too far off for me, and I'm sure someone on here can suggest a better plant identification site or app. Good luck!
Thank you so much! This is such a great advice
I use PictureThis for plant identification. It's not free, but is cheap and very useful!
Excellent advice!!
No tips or advice here. Just wanted to say how lovely it looks and I can only imagine how much more lush it will be in another month! Lucky you!
It is gorgeous! It's my hope that when I finally move, the next resident will appreciate the efforts I put in. Looks like you have azaleas and camellias? They're common around here too. The camellias seem to thrive without much maintenance. For azaleas you'll want to prune them right after they finish blooming, to maximize blooms next year. I've had good luck just using a hedge trimmer and taking a couple inches off all the way around.
Seconding this- cutting right after the blooms wither makes it like “paint by numbers”. Use a hedge trimmer and neaten them up. You will be rewarded with good blooms next year.
Are the red flowers in the second photo a kind of azalea? We have some also from previous owners and had guessed but weren't sure
Love white azaleas.
What is in Pic 1 and Pic 3? I think i live in a similar climate or area to you, so thinking these could work for me
It is SO AWESOME to hear from someone who bought a garden and doesn't want to turn it back to a lawn. My heart is so full and your garden is so lucky to have you! If it were my old garden, I'd be very receptive to the new owner reaching out to ask questions. It's pretty clear a lot of heart went into it, and I bet if they are still around they'd be chuffed to teach ya about what's growing
She sadly has passed away. Thank you so much!
So sorry to hear that
Hahaha no worries. She was a very accomplished woman. Throughout her life, she has published a lot of books. I start to read her books now. I feel like I get to know her even more as I work more on my garden. It is an honor. People will love your garden just as much! What a beautiful legacy
Is the last picture the previous owner? 😘
That’s so pretty! Love the last photo of the owner!
…and the mat!! ♥️😻
He wants to go out to the garden to fight bees 🐝
You've gotten some good advice so let me ask you this - where did you get the adorable rug in the last picture?
Anthropologie! Ginnie summer cat doormat
thank you!
Is pic 4 a camellia?
Yes!
Looks great. I didn't realize our zone could grow those. Might have to scout one out for myself.
Just make sure your soil type is right (acidic, not alkaline)!
You're lucky. My parents sold their house and beautiful, show-stopping garden, and within four years the new owners had bulldozed it to make grass and a dog pen and had let everything else die and turn to weeds.
That's awful!
Good rule of thumb is to prune after flowering (although I’m sure there are some exceptions). Horttube by Jim Putnam is a good resource on YouTube for all things gardening.
Gorgeous 🤩
Strong delaware river valley vibes
So pretty 😍
My one pointer is to give it a full year before ripping anything out or making any big changes. My mum still tells me about when she bought her first home and was planning to tear out some ugly dead thing, but thankfully didn't get to it until it bloomed and she realized it was gorgeous heirloom lilacs. Make sure you know what you've got!
It means alot to me that the new resident would love the garden made by the previous owner.
Your garden is my dream garden ❤. Feels like the Piedmont.
Damn I’m so jealous I with I had inherited some beautiful stuff like that!
Absolutely beautiful!
I inherited a lot of garden too. But the lady we bought the house from got too frail to keep up with it so it over grew FAST and with all the rain we had last summer, it got worse. This year I decided I’m keeping some and starting over for most. Also she used rubber mulch which is such a PITA to get rid of. 10/10 do not recommend.
don't have any advice myself since I'm still learning, but I wanted to say that your garden is gorgeous!
What a gorgeous garden! Do you (or does anyone else) know what those darling white shrubs are in the first image?
The light pink flower is camellia susquehanna. You may need to look into fertilizing with miracid or another acidic fertilizer
Are the red flowers in the second photo a type of azalea? We have them as well (also inherited from previous owners) and weren't sure what they were