Keeping it Fresh: Q&A with Neryda from Sullivan Garden

Q: What changes have you made to your garden since last year’s festival? 

As per usual, maintenance of the garden has continued. We have had our local arborist in culling overgrown trees on the northern perimeter of our property in order to let sunlight in and promote the growth of underlying planting. Half rounds have been placed as a pathway border in this area to tidy up edging and create a border for the path.

Q: What other changes have you made – and why? 

We continue to monitor the hard pruning of our rhododendrons (some had been in for 18-plus years, trimming back to a third of their size), which we hard cut to promote flowering and improve structure. Happily, they seem to be flourishing, only having lost a very small number.

A newly planted area displays ground covering totara, which showcases a bronze tinge and looks fabulous in situ, very easy care and most importantly stands up to the vicious southerlies we often experience.

Q: How are you dealing with problematic plants?

We have made a start on pulling out agapanthus along our driveway entrance into the property. They really are cumbersome and a bobcat has been our answer to the first section of removal. Having been in for 15-20 years they are very matted and now we have the job of disposing of them – not easy! We have tried to burn some and think that we may have to bury them eventually to dispose of them. We shall see.

Q: How is your garden shaping up for this year’s festival?

Recently we have trimmed our buxus and other hedges, having been away for seven weeks on holiday we now get the garden ship shape ready for the festival.

We look forward to our newly planted Azalea Mollis area, these having been in for two years, this year they should be showy and complement the area they are planted in as well as complementing the numerous rhododendrons flowering.

Roses have all been pruned, fertilizing the same will begin in earnest in the near future. We have put a roll away gate into each opening of the rose garden hoping to keep the pesky rabbits out this year.

Q: What does your garden mean to you?

We love the garden and watching it flourish through the seasons. This year is the first year enjoying retirement (Peter) and part-time work (self), which means we can spend as much time or as little as we like in the garden. There is no longer pressure to get those jobs done – every day is a Sunday and we love it!