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Post by bogmyrtle on May 15, 2008 11:17:00 GMT 1
I really MUST have a Laburnum in my front garden ;D Can any one recommend a variety which stays small - or is it OK to prune them back? We planted one in our front garden last year - hubby had to have one and the magnolia went! It is very pretty and was going to take a photograph tonight anyway. Will look up the variety for you when I get home |
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Post by Sleepy on May 15, 2008 11:40:23 GMT 1
I really MUST have a Laburnum in my front garden ;D Can any one recommend a variety which stays small - or is it OK to prune them back? Most laburnums grow between 5 and 8 metres. However you might consider a rather unusual variety - Laburnum alpinum 'Pendulum' - the Weeping Scotch Laburnum. Height 2m Spread 2m Fully hardy |
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Post by Sweetleaf on May 15, 2008 12:02:18 GMT 1
I wouldnt have a laburnum when I had young children about! As you no doubt know, the seeds are very poisonous and the pods look just like pea pods, one of my friends spent an afternoon and evening in A&E after her children and next doors children ate some.
The children were given charcoal mixed with ice cream to prevent them absorbing the poison.
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Post by Sleepy on May 15, 2008 12:17:27 GMT 1
I wouldnt have a laburnum when I had young children about! As you no doubt know, the seeds are very poisonous and the pods look just like pea pods, one of my friends spent an afternoon and evening in A&E after her children and next doors children ate some. The children were given charcoal mixed with ice cream to prevent them absorbing the poison. My neighbour asked me if she should get rid of her laburnum as her kids were small and she had heard it was poisonous. My advice was to teach the children about dangerous plants in the garden so that they learn respect - even if some risk is involved. She took my advice. Plus she has too many kids anyway. Losing one or two would make my life much quieter  |
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Post by madonplants on May 15, 2008 17:37:58 GMT 1
I wouldnt have a laburnum when I had young children about! As you no doubt know, the seeds are very poisonous and the pods look just like pea pods, one of my friends spent an afternoon and evening in A&E after her children and next doors children ate some. The children were given charcoal mixed with ice cream to prevent them absorbing the poison. She took my advice. Plus she has too many kids anyway. Losing one or two would make my life much quieter I agree with this. You teach your kids road safety, why not pond and plant safety too? All parts of a laburnum are poisoness, but the pods are the worst. |
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Post by bogmyrtle on May 16, 2008 9:26:12 GMT 1
Right, I have the label in front of me!
Laburnum x waterei 'Vossii' Golden Rain - Ideal for small gardens! Although it goes on to say height & spread in 20 years 5m x 4m (16' x 13') - I think we worked on the assumption that we would have probably moved by then so could enjoy it whilst it was growing! It is almost sterile so sets very little of the 'unwelcome' (their word) seed - shame I think.
Regarding poisonous seed pods etc - we had one in our garden when I was young as did some of our neighbours and none of the kids had any problems - as others have said, we were told not to eat it and didn't.
It is pretty!
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Post by bogmyrtle on May 16, 2008 10:41:00 GMT 1
SiL is a charge nurse in A&E and has worked there for over 10 years, he told me that he hasn't seen or heard of one case of a child being poisoned by eating laburnum pods. If only I had a garden large enough to create this - ![]() i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/The witch-in-Norfolk/Bits%20and%20bobs/images.jpg [/IMG] www.bodnantgarden.co.uk/flower.html[/quote] In my dreams - I wish! |
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Post by madonplants on May 16, 2008 12:31:27 GMT 1
Just thought, how does your OH feel about it or doesn't he know yet?  |
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Post by madonplants on May 19, 2008 9:43:49 GMT 1
Just thought, how does your OH feel about it or doesn't he know yet? He knows about it Keith, but he doesn't think there is enough room at the front of the house for a tree. I'll post a photo tomorrow, marking on it where I would like a laburnum. BTW would it be possible, does any one know, to cut the branches back, after flowering to keep the tree small? Once it's grown to a sensible height that is. I had one, when we lived in Skelsmerdale and all I did was minimal pruning in late autumn/winter time to take out any crossing branches. I suppose you could prune it harder then, but they look so much better left to grow properly, unless you are growing it over a pergola. that is. It would not have been my choice, but it was there before we moved in. Not sure how much 'dappled' shade it would give in full leaf, though. Ours was about 60ft from the house, so never would have caused any problems. How about that amelanchier or a sorbus cashmiriana? |
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Post by madonplants on May 19, 2008 11:38:01 GMT 1
Got an amelanchier in the back garden Keith Like the sound of sorbus cashmiriana, although it's rather wide. ;D 6-8 ft after 20 odd years!!  |
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Post by Sleepy on May 19, 2008 11:40:11 GMT 1
Got an amelanchier in the back garden Keith Like the sound of sorbus cashmiriana, although it's rather wide. ;D 6-8 ft after 20 odd years!! How wide after 20 normal years? |
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Post by Sleepy on May 19, 2008 11:50:46 GMT 1
A palm tree might meet your requirements then:  |
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Post by madonplants on May 19, 2008 11:53:49 GMT 1
6-8 ft after 20 odd years!! My book says 3 meters wide.  Just checked here. They are very slow growing though. If not what about a conifer!  You can come off the floor now! |
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Post by madonplants on May 19, 2008 11:57:24 GMT 1
A palm tree might meet your requirements then: Depends on whether you would need to wrap it in winter, how would it look then!! |
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Post by Sleepy on May 19, 2008 12:04:46 GMT 1
To be serious though I would want something eye-catching and spectacular. Maybe a mock orange, or a Lavateria, or a cornus controversa varigata?
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Post by madonplants on May 19, 2008 12:12:19 GMT 1
To be serious though I would want something eye-catching and spectacular. Maybe a mock orange, or a Lavateria, or a cornus controversa varigata? Eye catching and spectacular and then mention a mock orange and a lavateria?  !! The cornus would look OK, though. How about a standard wisteria? |
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Post by Sleepy on May 19, 2008 13:16:48 GMT 1
To be serious though I would want something eye-catching and spectacular. Maybe a mock orange, or a Lavateria, or a cornus controversa varigata? Eye catching and spectacular and then mention a mock orange and a lavateria? !! The cornus would look OK, though. How about a standard wisteria? Lavateria and mock orange are both more spectacular than cornus Keith. The cornus I suggested for it's architectural impact. I'm sorry that you have had poor results with lavateria and mock orange. |
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Post by madonplants on May 21, 2008 23:49:44 GMT 1
Eye catching and spectacular and then mention a mock orange and a lavateria? !! The cornus would look OK, though. How about a standard wisteria? Lavateria and mock orange are both more spectacular than cornus Keith. The cornus I suggested for it's architectural impact. I'm sorry that you have had poor results with lavateria and mock orange. I thought about the cornus as it was more tree than shrub. Quite a big tree eventually. |
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Post by Sleepy on May 22, 2008 8:31:04 GMT 1
Lavateria and mock orange are both more spectacular than cornus Keith. The cornus I suggested for it's architectural impact. I'm sorry that you have had poor results with lavateria and mock orange. I thought about the cornus as it was more tree than shrub. Quite a big tree eventually. Eh? I'm starting to worry about you Keith |
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Post by Sleepy on May 22, 2008 8:43:59 GMT 1
I'd like a tree where the big red arrow is, but it mustn't encroach over the marked yellow line. That bit of drive is a turning area for anyone using the close. ![]() i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/The witch-in-Norfolk/Bits%20and%20bobs/Tree.jpg [/IMG][/quote] I've been reconsidering and have decided to wait until the Viburnum tinus French White, which is in the bed surrounded by yellow pansies, has grown more before planting a Laburnum or small tree. Don't want the front to look over crowded. www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/viburnum-tinus-french-white/classid.4484/[/quote]It would probably be worth while taking the big red arrow out of the ground and maybe replacing it with something more aethetic? Maybe a replica stone statue of the Venus de Milo? |
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Post by Sleepy on May 22, 2008 8:57:31 GMT 1
It would probably be worth while taking the big red arrow out of the ground and maybe replacing it with something more aethetic? Maybe a replica stone statue of the Venus de Milo? What a good idea Sleepy and while I'm at it I'll remove the single yellow line too. ;D Not the Venus de Milo though - can't have bare breasts in my front garden. I can't think of anything better to have in your front garden??? Good idea about the yellow line too. See, once we put our heads together the good ideas just flow. |
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!! The cornus would look OK, though. How about a standard wisteria?