Cringe Task

Do you have any looming tasks in the garden that you are not looking forward to doing? A task that makes you shudder or cringe? We do, one in particular....

That is to move one of the Yucca linearifolia growing on the first raised bed in the area where our koi pond is. We dont need to dig it out, but rather loosen it on one side to shift the rootball, hopefully by only digging on one side it will not be too much stress for the plant. However this will still involve severing some of its roots in the process, and the thought of severing roots makes me a little nervous, shudder, and yes cringe.

Blue trunked yuccas are not always the easiest of plants to re-root and those that are planted, once you realise that they have re-rooted and are growing away nicely gives a sense of relief. The last thing you'd want is to hurt those fragile roots again.

Spade into its rootball, ouch...my heart!!!

But for this one it had to be done. It was leaning and bending far too low that it was almost obstructing the pathway. It's not too obvious on the photo but it really is in the way. And although we are both used to avoiding getting spiked whenever we go past it, garden visitors aren't and for their safety it couldn't stay in the way for too long anymore. And besides, a head of spiky yucca leaves in the way of a pathway is rather silly.

It was planted a few years ago with the natural curve of the trunk deliberately facing the pathway. Even so back then the head of leaves had a safe distance away from the pathway. A few years on the leaves got a lot longer and despite being supported it leaned even further down. It also sent out lots more suckers which may have contributed to its lean.

As much as I hate the thought of severing its roots and risking its very existence it had to be moved up and out of the way of the pathway. It's either that or cut it off down to the base and let the suckers take over. Suddenly the first option seems the best.

So the deed had to be done today. Putting that spade in, ouch!

And Gaz felt an extra ouch too as some of those leaves spiked his face as he sorted out the ropes and stake to make it upright.

And there it is now, standing a lot more upright and out of the way of the pathway.

Spading its rootball and pushing it up is putting the health of the Yucca at risk and is a bit of a gamble. It's still early in the season and it has all year now to re-root and re-establish itself. Fingers crossed we didn't harm and set it back too much. It's a shame we had to do this as this plant was very established already but needs be for a clear pathway comes first. Hopefully it'll be fine, heal itself and carry on growing...upwards this time.

Mark :-)

Posted in: exotic blog , exotic garden , exotic garden blog , Leagrave Village , Spring , Yucca