Chopping the Chilean potato vine aka solanum.

job well done there Kate, I am waiting until leaf fall to tackle most of our over grown shrubs. I know I will forfeit flowers next year but it has to be down soon or the telephone wires will be compromised.

fancy coming over to give a hand ;o)

Thank you, Eileen! Saying that, our pruning tasks are much, much less than what you have to grapple with!!!!
Any time at all, I would be happy to help!!! 😊

A very satisfying undertaking, I expect, Kate. Mind you, the clearing up is always a pain-in-the-proverbial. Hedge-cutting brings out a similar response here!

Exactly the same here … we really need to cut our Laurel hedge back but dread the bending to clear up all the bits!

It certainly was - to both comments - Ange! 😁
I don’t think any of I’d like the aftermath!

Sheila, we still have our big laurel ‘tree’ to do, plus the hedge at the front…I love the pruning and whizzing part with the trimmer..but, yes, the clearing up is not good! Even I struggle with my back after a while. 🙁

Well done to both of you. I have found that by laying a large dust sheet (decorators let us have it some time ago!) on the ground where I'm pruning, I can then gather it up and tip it all in the bin or composter. Especially handy if the prunings are prickly!

Excellent advice Shirley, so long as you have flat, fairly empty ground. Our problem is the flower border next to the hedge, so hardly any room for feet, let alone a dust sheet (but we will try it)!

Sheila, I use it in the front garden which is gravelled, when I trim the Rosemary and Lavender and use an old bath towel in the back garden for trimming shrubs. It does save a lot of bending when clearing up . . . :o)

Thanks Shirley, we usually place something down to make it easier…but, OH had started trimming way like his life depended on it

It's good to cut things back when they grow too big, you feel you can breathe easier :D
I wish my Solanum would grow bigger, and I have never been able to grow Ceanothus. You are lucky they survive in your garden.

Done a great job, Kate! I have the same problem trying to get rid of all the greenery after all the hard work. 8 trips to the dump over two days two weeks ago! Looks lovely and when a job is done it’s so satisfying…..

Kate, that did make me smile!

Thanks Hywel, you do feel a bit ‘lighter’ in the garden and you feel ‘brighter’ too.
It’s funny isn’t it that some of us can grow certain plants like they are ‘going out of fashion’ and others struggle to get them going! My ceanothus is rampant behind the small fence at the top of the rockery and heading up the bund along with the ivy 😁. Plus, the solanum - crikey, Hywel, I blink and I’m sure it’s just grown two feet outwards and upwards!!!!!

Thanks kindly, Amsterdam! Gosh, that sounds like a LOT of tip visits indeed! You must’ve been quite exhausted..and exhilarated too! It’s definitely a satisfying outcome isn’t it! 😊

Shirley, he was whizzing away with it - loves his machinery! Typical chap! I was the one doing all the up and down work, picking up the detritus!!! He ended up snipping the old wood with secateurs once he’d finished with his trimmer! Think I had the tedious task between the two!

Paul, part of me wishes it wouldn’t come back! 😉 it’s just too big at times..it does have lovely little flowers though. Plus, I guess it’s sort of semi-hardy….I’ll grin and bear it!
Hope you felt better after decluttering! I love a good session of decluttering! I enjoyed some sunshine this afternoon, once I’d got back from yoga…

Kate, my OH is definitely not your 'typical chap' then as he is not practical at all, no D.I.Y. skills either!

Me too, Paul, it definitely adds some interest to a tree/plant. Have to admit I’m a bit OCD too..I like everything in its place…in the garden I tend to retrim edges of the small lawn if a blade of grass has been missed! I wish I could be more relaxed about things!

Shirley, I’ll bet he has other skills though! He can’t be good at everything, maybe not a practical chap, but, he is probably skilled in other ways. My dad isn’t the practical sort, but, he makes up for it in other ways. (Ps. My mum is the practical one! 😁)

Well, he used to bake lovely scones and sponge cakes! Not any more though, I'm not allowed to eat them these days . . . :o))

That’s such a pity, Shirley. At least you were able to enjoy his culinary skills before, I guess that’s one way of looking at it…

So true, Kate. He has been really busy in the garden this morning, helped me empty pots of root bound Agaves and then cleared the gutters of all the roof moss, leaves etc. before we get any rain. Good job it's a bungalow!!

He is definitely worth his weight in gold, Shirley. x