beach chick Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 very leggy, showing a lot of dying back at the base - its prob about 8-9 years old. time to give up on it? and if so can I replant another one in the same spot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 I'd say it's time to replace it as rosemary doesn't re grow from the bottom/old growth as for growning in the same place I've never heard that it's a problem but the ground will be in need of feeding as rosemary that old will have taken all the goodness old of the ground Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted August 6, 2011 Author Share Posted August 6, 2011 thanks, I thought I might have to get rid! but yes, sort the ground out is a good plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Make sure that you either buy a large plant or leave the old one in place for a while because they do take quite a while to grow. i took cuttings from an old bush about 5 years ago and the one that I planted out has only just really become useful. I really regretted digging up the old bush too soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Beach chick - if you wait til I'm moved I can give you some. We have a fab Rosemary bush that we are planning on taking with us. If it survives then you can well & truly have a cutting off it to plant. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Glad this has been posted,as my very old,very large & very regularly harvested Rosemary is also looking sad,woody & leggy I will get a nice new one from the herb farm,down the way,as soon as possible to replace it in another spot,then hoik it out next spring. I LOVE Rosemary - it enhances so many dishes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted August 12, 2011 Author Share Posted August 12, 2011 Well I have hacked all the dead bits off the rosemary this morning, and left the two gnarled old stems with nice looking bits on - that will have to do us til I get another one established. Inspired by this, I then started clearing out the rest of the bed, cutting the old day lilies down to the ground and pulling out by hand as much weedage as I could. there is a strip about 18" wide all down one side which was nothing but that yellow weed (not buttercup, might be loosestrife?) and I've pulled all that out and now put 2 of the chooks on there for the day to have a go at the ground for me!! then I'm going to fork it over, add some chicken compost and cover with black plastic for a couple of weeks and then plant it with lavender - I have 7 plants in pots on the patio and they wont be happy there for much longer. then once the michaelmas daisies and monkshood are finished I will cut them down and see what gaps are left to fill in the autumn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 very leggy, showing a lot of dying back at the base - its prob about 8-9 years old. time to give up on it? and if so can I replant another one in the same spot? Take cuttings from the healthy bits!!! The BBC gardening page listed it under their "Jobs to do this week" for 15th-21st August so it's the perfect time. You get to grow new stock and it doesn't cost you anything Here's how to do it: http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/rosemary-cuttings/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
