Inherited Garden

Recently a neighbour moved house and due to unforseen circumstances had to move over 1000 potted plants on the quick - hense I have inherited an established garden (all in pots). The only outdoor space I have is a roof terrace 14' x 24' (yes I too am worried about the weight factor)
These plants range from an 8' Cordyline Australus, two 4' x 4' Ceanothus , several roses, climbers such as honeysuckle, clematis and a climbing fushia, shrubs galore in all shapes and sizes, several pots of twigs in all shapes and sizes, which look like they are just about to busrt into life, Acanthus Mollie, phlox, Date palms, arum lilies and a titan arum.. oh, and some daffs, bluebells and some bulbs I have planted with funny green leaves. I have managed to identify these by looking in books and the internet and am running our of steam - so many plants in the world!

My question....

What do I do with them? Will just watering them for the next few weeks be enough to keep them going while I research each individual plant for care instructions? Some plants look like they are about to burst out of their pots while others look like they are in pots that are way too big.

My neighbour has far to many worries to ask her... any advice will be appreciated.

 

Hope they were in pots before the sale was agreed or new owners may ask for them back.

As to their care, with such a wide vairety, think you need to search this site or buy a good book!

Good luck

 

Its all legal, the plants were all in pots and the new owners wanted them gone - are they mad?

 

I'd agree with your worry about the weight. Is there anyone you can call on to take some of them in while you suss it all out? And maybe take some of them more permanently into their garden?? That's what I'd do, if I didn't ahve the space or capacity for all that lot. It's a great pity if you can't keep them all - but it would give you a breathing space at least. If you think that's a possibilety, decide what you want to keep, foist the otheres on unsuspecting friends or relatives, and then ask us for help on what you keep! :D

 

If you are keeping them on your roof terrace, place the largest and heavest pots as close to the edge, or a supporting wall, as possible and put the lightest further away. The principle of levers says that your roof is strongest close to a supporting wall and weakest in the centre.

And yes, to your question, just keep them watered for the time being.

 

Thats a goodly selection of plants - but I would agree that the main priority is to check out your roof terrace - a surveyor should be able to ascertain whether its strong enough. Watered pots are heavy.

Watering and perhaps feeding them once a fortnight with a general fertilisers, should be all you need to do in respect of care, for the plants you've listed. I wouldn't even think about repotting for the moment.

Your neighbour change of circumstances must have been quite something. :eek:

 

I have now rehomed some of the larger species to my mums garden, and given some to friends as suggested - have carefully placed the remaining larger ones on supporting walls. I have also been able to place some on a neighbours roof terrace so I can still see and care for them.

Much research has led me to be able to place most plants in approprite places (sun/shade)and I have only 3 or 4 that I have been unable to identify - hopefully once they flower the job will be easier. The only one I have been able to identifiy and not find care instruction for is the Titan Arum. No chance of keeping it in a temperate house - and I am glad it will never flower! I have emailed Kew Gardens, London to ask for advice.

 

with your determination to do the right thing by these plants, you're bound to succed with most of them! I'm sure your neighbour knew she had foisted them on the right person! Hope things work out for you, and for her.

 

If you can get some pics we may be able to help identify some of them and then give cultural advice

 

Ok, Battery just gone on the camera but I managed to get a couple - so here they are:

1)This plant is about 10 inches tall, very delicate with only a few leaves and these yellowy green flowers.

2) Not sure if this is a large shrub or a small tree, stands about 4 ft high, no leaves and these pretty liitle pink buds about to open.

3) I have about 20 of these, I found them in a box, growing soil-less under some hessian; many where pale yellow and deformed (think because they had no light?) This one had grown through the material. They have grown from white bulbs that are almost the size of my fist. They have been in pots for just over a week and their colour is improving - two of the deformed ones have what look like white flower buds at the top. If they where as straight as the one in the picture I think they would be about 20" tall.

[ 09. April 2006, 07:33 PM: Message edited by: SarahInTheGarden ]