New Home and Perenials HELP I dont have a clue

[flakypuff]

I am so excited I found all of you!
I moved into a new home. The women who lived here spent alot of time in the yard.
Now spring is here and I started cleaning out the beds...
There are a few things that I don't know what to do with...
Babies Breath??? Right now it is big and bushey...brown..almost looks dead.
We moved in in November so she never cut anything down and now I don't know what to cut. Should I cut the Babies breath down???
Also There is this huge plant...It is about 50 big stick things sticking up...Looks like bamboo shoots almost. no leaves..They don't pull up and when I snapped on in half it is very brittle but the very inside of the stick feels a little moist...If I don't cut it to the ground will it grow??
I love bulbs can I plant some now??? What??? Thank you so much!

 

[Mamu]

Welcome to the F&G Forum, we are all Buds in the learning stages. (should I say Blooming Stage)

First cut the babies breath down with shears. As far as the other plant wait to see where the new growth comes from. If it sprouts from the ground cut the stakes down.

There are lots of summer flowering bulbs that can be planted in the spring, but daffodils, tulips and the other spring flowering bulbs need to be planted in the fall.

We are all here to help with your gardens. Hope to see you return.

 

[shrubber]

I'll bet that the bamboo like plant is a perennial Hibiscus. Hibiscus moscheotos. 3 to 5 foot mostly hollow stalks, very brittle, growing from a clump. If thats the case cut it back.

 

[FroggyinArk]

could you post pics of the problem plants? the stalky one could be several different things, i'ld skip th e bulbs till fall, gives you time to get the beds prepped, you might want to work somer seasonal color into the area you are wanting bulbs, that wi;ll help get the soil conditioned for later, chop the babys breath back, it'll put back out, you can take it as far back as you want, just be prepared for a few y eras time to get a nice shapely bush that blooms

 

[bananiem]

The big stalks could also be hollyhocks. If so you will want to use really sharp hedge trimmers to cut them down at the base. They tend to throw their seeds so you will have no problem having more of them, whether you want them or not! LOL!
I agree with the info already posted about the babies breath.

 

[flakypuff]

You are all so sweet. Thank you.
I am going to take a few pictures and then you'll know what I am talking about. I am sorry since I don't know what these plants are when they are alive I relly havent a clue when they are dead

 

[gina2000]

The sticks may be hydrangea. If it is a hydrangea, you'll see buds on those dead sticks. It's one of the few bushes that buds on dead wood.

Wait to see where the growth comes from. That will determine what you cut. If there is no growth, the entire plant is dead.

 

[amid chaos]

I agree with Gina..the big stick thing sound like a hydrangea.

Now, many may not agree with me, but I think if I were in your shoes I would do some major cutting back of everything and see what happens to them this year. Give everything a start fresh. It's going to take you at least a year to figure out what everything is anyway.

The bulbs you see in the stores now are summer bulbs and can be planted now. the ones you see int he fall are spring bulbs but are to be planted in the fall.

 

[nocnurse]

The bamboo stuff could be the evil Japanese knotweed. You will want to consider getting rid of it. It's a really awful plant.http://www.invasivespecies.gov/profiles/japktwd.shtml

 

[DebºoºS]

Welcome to F&G and congratulations on your new home
Pics would really help in identifying plants. Not that I would be much help. DH killed almost all of my dutch iris last year he thought they were wild onions. They do look alike.
I agree with Gina sounds like hydrangea. It's a beautiful bush when it blooms.