One of my favorite things in our yard is an old mock orange bush. I had no idea what it even was when we moved in, since it had bloomed months before the home was put on the market. I was surprised our first May in the house when the large bush was dotted with dainty white blooms. It was beautiful and so fragrant.
Every May since, I have eagerly awaited the mock orange blossoms to make an appearance.
Here is the problem, though. It was so overgrown that it had fallen over on itself, and it was getting worse each year. On top of that, honeysuckle, ivy, and other weeds and vines were mingled around the base and in the branches, and a white mulberry tree had grown right in the middle of it. This summer, it grew to the point that it was towering almost six feet over the mock orange.
Jeff used to point at this bush, which really didn’t have much appeal except for when it bloomed in early spring, and give it the thumb. Declarations would accompany the gesture, like, “That bush is gone!” Once I saw the white flowers, though, he didn’t stand a chance. I dug my heels in, just as I did with the abelia hedge.
“It needs to be trimmed, but it’s staying. Trust me.”
So, towards the end of last week, we took advantage of a gorgeous, late summer day and hard pruned the mock orange bush. People who know about gardening and hard pruning mock orange bushes suggest pruning after the blooms fade, during winter, or in early spring. We somehow missed all of those windows and just pruned the bush when it came up on the to-do list, and we had time to do it. Sometimes that’s the way it goes. Based on the reading I’ve done on mock orange bushes, they are pretty hardy and will flourish after a hard pruning.
We used a chainsaw and hedge trimmer for the bulk of the work, and I still need to go into the center of the bush with pruners to thin it out a bit more. We cut it back to about three feet, though, which should rejuvenate the bush. I’m sad to say that we might not get blooms next spring, but it’s worth sacrificing one season of flowers to improve the overall health of the bush.
Since we trimmed it back, I’ve been pulling ivy and weeds that were growing under the bush. I’m planning on making a ring around the bush with mulch, preserving some of the winter creeper that’s already there to fill the area in. With the rest of the space, I’m going to rake in some topsoil and plant grass seed. It’s been a nice project to chip away at here and there in the evenings. Gardening has taught me to appreciate taking large strides, one small step at a time.
I did this a while ago, but I also addressed the area by the back corner of our fence. When I was weeding a couple of years ago, I recognized a spirea bush. I added one more last year so the two can fill out that area, but it has been a challenge to keep the weeds under control, especially because it’s an area I don’t see very often. I’m battling the usual suspects in my yard – bishop’s weed, bittersweet nightshade, English ivy, and some other goodies just to keep me on my toes.
It isn’t too terrible in this picture, but earlier this summer, the weeds had entirely hidden the spirea bushes, and some wild grape vine was climbing all over the fences. I got a wild hair one day and cut everything back, then pulled anything that was left. Having dealt with areas that have been overrun for years, I’ve been using cardboard, plastic, and heavy-duty weed-blocking fabric to stifle growth and, hopefully, get things under control.
I added heavy-duty weed-blocking fabric in this area and will continue to work along the arborvitae hedge to clear out ivy and weeds growing along the base.
I’m running out of the mulch I ordered this Spring, so I just mulched the front of the area, but even that looks so much better than the weedy mess it was.
Weedy areas in a yard are sort of like messy storage areas. They stress me out. All I see is a bunch of stuff to do. I know weeding is a constant part of keeping a yard tidy, but it’ll be much easier to maintain once the overrun areas are tamed, even just a little bit.
PS – We still need to repair the back corner of the fence. A large branch broke off our neighbor’s tree and fell across both fences. We thought we might just be able to replace the broken pickets, but we need to replace the top two-by-four. Anyway, another project on the list…
15 Responses
Doesn’t it seem like the project list never ends?! 🙂
I really need to get out in our yard and do some major clean up — but it’s been so darn hot and humid — doesn’t feel like Fall at all here!
It’s been helpful watching you work through your yard transitions. We moved at the beginning of year so it’s been full of learning and surprises. I’ve enjoyed mostly watching how everything looks each season and learning what needs to be done. (That has also given me time to do the unpacking and weed out the items we don’t need in our new home.) This winter I’ll be sketching out the landscape and deciding how to add my favorites. I wish I had a place to add some mock orange.
If you haven’t been to Lurgens, (near Orrstown, PA), yet I highly recommend the drive. I did add some annuals to a few pots on our patio this summer and I’m glad I went. I think you’ll enjoy it. The scenery makes the drive! Just make sure to bring cash or your checkbook – they don’t take credit cards. Oh, and if you have a veggie garden next summer they have some wonderful selections.
Your neighbors must love all your efforts!
Mock orange is a wonderful shrub. A good rule of thumb for flowering shrubs is that early spring to early summer bloomers bloom on the previous year’s growth. It’s possible you may see fewer or possibly no blooms this coming winter. Don’t despair, it will bloom prolifically the following year or possibly later than usual in ’26, as it needs time to put on new growth on which it can set buds.
Either way, your shrub will be beautiful again!
What a lucky gal you are! My in-laws had a smaller mock orange in their yard and I loved that little tree and it beautiful blooms and and LOVED the smell of those blossoms!! I’ve looked in some nurseries for one but haven’t seen one yet. ♥♥♥
Just a word of warning: I really got into my beds to weed. I ended up with a MONSTER case of poison ivy! I had to see the doctor for a steroid pack, and it still lasted a month. YUCK!!
Euonymus or winter creeper is one of those things that can get out of control and considered an invasive in Missouri. And I know this because it terrorizes my yard and trees. That said, Vinca vine is not touted (that I know of) and also covers a lot of ground and I planted it on purpose. Dissuading you from growing it is not my intention just extending a warning to all.
Oh!!! my!!!! Vinca is the worst!!!! It is VERY aggressive and takes over. The roots are a tangled, intertwined mess of spaghetti!!! Which wreaks the soil for other plants. When removing it, if you leave one leaf it can still survive and start all over again. It has taken me 5 years of intense removal to get rid of it. I had to dig it out deeper and soak the soil with 30% vinegar……and repeat…repeat…repeat. I even wrote an email to Linda Vater….all she said was, “Well…good luck with that!…you will need it!!!”
On the other hand it does stay green with very little water! Don’t let it get away from you.
Yes, we have it in one area of our yard and it has taken off! I think it will be okay in this bed since it’s just a small area around the mock orange bush. We already have it running through the yard, along with the ivy, so unless we want to nuke everything, it’s going to be something to deal with.
Marian, did you ever consider wetting down an area before you start to pull up the weeds? It makes it a whole lot easier & you will be able to not only pull up the weeds, but the roots, too!
I second this!! I also use the power of a strong hose spray when digging a hole to plant. Sometimes it takes me an entire day to begin digging, then using the hose to attack the sides of the hole and let it fill with water. Once that water has absorbed I repeat the process until I have the width and depth correct. It is the easiest and most back saving gardening tip I have ever found.
That is such a good idea!
I usually try to weed after the rain and you are right, it’s easier! We don’t have a hose near that side of the house, so wetting it down would’ve been a pain.
I had to giggle at your description of Jeff giving the thumbs down. If my husband had his way most trees and shrubs would have been gone when we moved in our house – but 25 years later we have a gorgeous screen of Rose of Sharon due to me refusing to let it go. Also, I have cut them back at all different times and they do fine. I think doing gardening tasks when time allows is better than not doing them at all.
Marian,
Gardening is a passion for me. Fortunately, living in Southern California I can practice my hobby nearly year around. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the progress you’ve made in your yard. I’m always inspired to get out to the yard to tackle a chore that I’ve procrastinated on!
Thank you so much for sharing all your hard work. I always learn something and your progress on your home, inside and out, is amazing.
Karen B.
I have enjoyed your blog for over 12 years, and the last 10 years have had 24/7 vertigo and double vision in both eyes. I really have to enlarge anything I’m going to try to read and can no longer read books and have reduced the blogs I read down to 3 including yours. Each time you change your format I have spent the time to figure out where the latest blog entry is located. I don’t do emails anymore because of my vision problems, so I have your blog bookmarked and get it from there instead of an email notification. But this latest redo of your blog leaves me in tears and feeling like I’ve lost a friend. I just can’t find the latest blog without searching and searching and mostly give up. I would think since I’m reading a blog that the first thing I would see would be the latest blog entry right at the top. But it’s not there, or even all the way at the bottom like your last redo. I use the search and type in blog, or today’s blog, or today’s month and year, and get info on how to create a blog or maybe something from fall 2012. I search and search until I see a title I don’t recognize and that’s usually a newer one I haven’t read. I see others leave comments so they must find your blogs a lot easier than I can. I honestly don’t want this to sound like a complaint because it isn’t. I have just lost so much I ever enjoyed since I’ve become disabled that I didn’t want to lose your blog too without asking if anything can be done to make it easy to find your latest post. There’s not even the word blog on any of your many small drop down menus, and the place to explore your blog does not have a choice entitled latest blog. I use a MacBook Air that a family member keeps current and I can read the other 2 blogs I follow. I really don’t want to lose yours as it’s such a joy to see and read.