It’s funny how you can look at something year after year without it having any affect on you, then suddenly, out of the blue it’s time to make a change!

I’ve had a sad excuse for a Yucca sitting in a pot outside the front door for more years that I care to think about. I’ve now decided to release it into the wild.

My root-bound Yucca, minus its pot.

There is a corner of my garden that has been over-taken by a cabbage tree, grasses and ferns and it annoys me every time I look at it.

It’s one of those areas that you know you need to do something with, but you just can’t think what would be the best move.

We’ll today it got the better of me. I started off going to Mitre 10 to pick up a filter for the little pool pump, but I ended up walking out with over $70 worth of plants as well.

At least I have made a start!

I took to the cabbage tree with a saw (it was really only a baby standing about a metre or so high). The wild ferns have been tamed to a civilized state and I’m going to plant the Yucca slap bang in the middle.

But first I had to dislodge the yucca from its pot prison.  Easier said than done!

A huge wrap-around of roots.

But once it was out, I saw that it was so root-bound, it’s no wonder it has looked so sad for all these years.

After it was free of the pot, I chopped away at the mass and freed some of the roots before dunking it into a bucket of water for about 20 minutes.

I’d already dug the hole, so then prepared it with a couple of handfuls of compost before placing the tree.

Getting a long-overdue soak in a bucket of water.

I poured the bucket of water I’d used for soaking, over the roots to give it an added drink, before covering them with soil.

It will need regular watering in this hot summery weather  and I’ll be keen to see how it looks in a month or so.

The lesson I learnt from this little exercise is that often plants will just stay in survival mode for many years without becoming a specimen worthy of any recognition. I have to admit that my own neglect has paid a huge part in this.

But now, hopefully, the yucca will take on a new lease of life and I’ll eventually be rewarded with a tree to be proud of.