AUCKLAND

- For the good of their gardens, gardeners should be “editors” too.

Ifirst heard the phrase “garden editing” when I visited Penny Zino’s wonderful Flaxmere last autumn. Penny explained that after more than 50 years, her large north Canterbury garden had entered its “editing” phase, which involved the removal of several large trees.

These had been planted when the garden was young, and the time had come to allow space for other plants. So many trees remained that I barely noticed the difference, although her carefully crafted vistas seemed even more prominent.

I confess to having been a closet “editor” for some years, having planted far too many trees when we first purchased our five-acre block some 40 years ago (my wife Sandra did point this excess out to me many times but I confess that as a besotted young plant lover who thought I knew everything, I ignored her advice). However, it did eventually get to the point where even I had to admit that our garden was becoming a jungle.

It was not just the size and number of trees that presented a problem. The support plantings of shrubs and climbers had in some places become an impenetrable mass. Every time a tennis ball went over the fence, we mounted a search party; some parts of the garden had become almost inaccessible; and although the clivias loved it, there were few spots for sun-loving plants.

It is tough for any plant lover to discard plants, especially those they have planted, but for me, it finally was time to make some hard decisions.

Still, I started my editing project tentatively, thinking a minor cull would sort out the problem.

So, when a man with a digger and another with a chainsaw arrived, I told them I had about two days’ work for them.

I marked a few trees, some rambling roses and large shrubs with fluorescent pink Dazzle, choosing those causing the most problems and, of course, those

I was least attached to.

Within a day the difference was remarkable, both in the appearance of the garden and the renewed sense of freedom I felt when in it.

Long-obscured garden features re-emerged, as did a few plants I had not seen for years. Vistas were restored, overgrown pathways became accessible, and importantly I had new empty beds available for more plants.

It was liberating, and I quickly moved on from any sense of loss.

I told my contractors I would be needing them for a few more days and that a second digger and another chainsaw would be useful.

This experience reinforced my view that the most important plant selections we make are trees as they present the greatest potential problems. I should add that if chosen wisely, they also present the greatest future benefits in the garden.

The joy of rediscovered light and space from thinning my overgrown garden shows that taking the hard decision to cull plants can be rewarding.

Trees are wonderful, but space and light are just as important. It is a much better idea to attend to trees regularly rather than wait until they need major treatment. If pruned regularly, some can be contained in size so that culling can be avoided.

Renewal is fundamental to a good garden, and it is not, of course, just about trees.

Most plants require replacement at some stage, but it is relatively easy when it is smaller, shorter-lived plants that need to be moved on. A vigorous healthy young plant is always preferable to a decrepit old-timer.

For me it is about weighing up the benefits and then planning any changes thoughtfully.