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Gardening

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Original poster

Are these too close together? (Pic)

35 replies

posalie · 19/05/2022 21:39

I planted a ceonothus, jasmine, hydrangea and hebe today. I left maybe 20-30cm between each. I could have left more, but it would've required pulling up some Pulmonaria which I was reluctant to do.

But now I'm worried I've not left nearly enough space for them to grow! Should I dig them up tomorrow and space out more?

Help! (I'm new to having a garden, can you tell?)

Are these too close together? (Pic)
OP posts:
Original poster
posalie · 19/05/2022 21:49

Bump please!

OP posts:
MrsDamonSalvatore · 19/05/2022 21:52

Yes, I’m afraid so. I tend to do this too, try to cram stuff in but I end up having to dig them up! My ceanothus has grown huge in a couple of years, so if yours is the same type it will swamp the others.

ThisisMax · 19/05/2022 21:54

At least a metre between each.

Original poster
posalie · 19/05/2022 21:57

Doh! Does it distress the plants being dug up so soon after planting?

OP posts:
tedgran · 19/05/2022 21:59

Pulmonaria can be made smaller, it will spread again.

butterflyfox · 19/05/2022 22:00

Sorry. Absolutely yes. Ceonothus will grow enormous in five minutes and cramp the others.

Original poster
posalie · 19/05/2022 22:02

Can I get away with moving only the ceonothus? Or will the hydrangea or jasmine get big too? I don't think the hebe will, but I could be wrong.

OP posts:
Original poster
posalie · 19/05/2022 22:04

There's a lot of space at the back of the garden, but it's shadier there. Should I just move the ceonothus there or will it not thrive due to lack of sun?

OP posts:
GirlCrushxxx · 19/05/2022 22:13

dig them up and move them they will be fine!

i'm forever moving things around

Original poster
posalie · 19/05/2022 22:14

It's this one www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/ceanothus-skylark/classid.728/

OP posts:
Original poster
posalie · 19/05/2022 22:15

Really a metre apart? I don't have that much space!

OP posts:
Stigsmother · 19/05/2022 22:30

Jasmine will run absolutely rampant if you don't keep on top of it....
Hydrangeas, well mine is 4ft tall and 6x3 wide, it would be 3 times the size if i didn't prune it savagely every year.
The hydrangea will grow in a large pot if have room

ThisisMax · 20/05/2022 08:11

posalie · 19/05/2022 22:15

Really a metre apart? I don't have that much space!

You need to read up on actual eventual size- it really is that size! You need only one plant there. It also looks very shady for all the plants you have used.

Original poster
posalie · 20/05/2022 08:23

Yikes... I'll have to have a rethink over the weekend! But these plants can't really go back for a refund (!).

Can I leave them there for now (but move the ceonothus, say), and move in a few years if they really get massive?

OP posts:
AlisonDonut · 20/05/2022 08:28

Hebe will be fine. The other three, yes need space but can be planted over other shorter stuff. Pulling out pulmonaria is fine, it will grow back pretty quick. What other stuff have you got in other corners of the garden that you can plant these over?

MereDintofPandiculation · 20/05/2022 09:28

posalie · 19/05/2022 21:57

Doh! Does it distress the plants being dug up so soon after planting?

No, they haven’t got settled in yet.

They’ll be a lot less happy about being moved once they’ve been there a year or two. You could leave them all, and accept you’ll need to getrid of the middle one ine a couple of years.

Hebe - depends on the species. Mine is over 2m tall and wide.

steppemum · 20/05/2022 09:45

ceonothus is a huge bush/tree.
hydrangea are similar.

These are not small plants, they are large shrubs.

ThisisMax · 20/05/2022 09:52

You just need one of them in that space. Probably the hydrangea.

Original poster
posalie · 20/05/2022 12:56

Is it ok to replant the hydrangea and jasmine in places where there are already short plants - like forget me nots, bluebells, poppies? Or do I need to pull up the short plants to make root space?

OP posts:
AppleBirdBrush · 20/05/2022 22:19

posalie · 19/05/2022 22:04

There's a lot of space at the back of the garden, but it's shadier there. Should I just move the ceonothus there or will it not thrive due to lack of sun?

I would move the hydrangea to the shadier spot, they can get scorched in too much direct sun. It should be fine to leave some smaller plants around underneath.
Not sure about the others and I should say I'm far from an expert (but do have a big hydrangea in a shady place on my patio!).

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/05/2022 09:27

No,you don’t need to move the short plants.

Original poster
posalie · 21/05/2022 12:32

would the short plants not compete for root space if I just left them?

OP posts:
Ferngreen · 22/05/2022 07:05

But do you want to look at large areas of earth. Plus weeds will take over.
I would leave them this year. Then move in the winter when they are dormant. You might not need all those shrubs but you can leave them to see what thrives and what doesn't.

bloodyunicorns · 22/05/2022 07:12

Our ceanothus is about 8 foot tall and 4 foot wide now - did you get a bush/compact variety? I hope so! If not, you will need to ensure it's at the back of your flower bed and has loads of room.

The label should say how big the plants will get in five years, so allow for this when planting them.

bloodyunicorns · 22/05/2022 07:15

We have a winter jasmine trained along our fence, and it is the devil. It's about a foot thick everywhere and really dense. Grows feet each year and sends out runners. If yours is like that, you will need a lot of space for it.

Hebes should be a small clumpy plant, but they can grow big too.