Hedgingyourbets
By Hannah Stephenson
love the uniformity of hedges, the any loose cable if you're using electric
way a neatly trimmed hedge tidies hedge clippers.I
up the whole garden, as does a Start clipping at one end, starting at
well-kept lawn. Hedges can also work the base and working your way up,
wonders sectioning off areas so there's covering about 1m (3ft) at a time.
a surprise around every corner. Leave the top until last, which makes it
Ofcourse,theeffectthathedgingcan easier to get it completely level. Try to
create largely depends on its make the sides slope in slightly so the
maintenance and if you have a privet base is slightly wider at the bottom, to
or other fast-growing hedge such as avoidcreatingshadethatkillsthebase
the evergreen honeysuckle Lonicera of the plant.
nitida, it will probably need a trim now When you reach the end of the
to keep it looking its best. hedge,removethetemplate,postsand
Conifer hedges, including the string, trim the ends of the hedge
notoriously fast-growing leylandii, neatly and tidy up any bits you may
which grows impossibly tall if left have missed.
unchecked, are nevertheless excellent If you want to shape your hedge at
hedging plants if they are regularly the top you can make a shaping frame
trimmed. or template from a piece of plywood,
You may have to clip conifer hedges whichisespeciallyusefulwhenshaping
three times during the summer, with a hedge in its early years. Place it over
the first cut in May (but watch out that thehedgeandcutfollowingthelinesof
you don't disturb any nesting birds) the template, moving along the hedge
and the last in late summer, clipping to as you go.
the desired shape and stopping the Of course, tools are also all-
leading shoot at the desired height. important. I have several small, waist-
BoxandyewcanbeclippedinMayto height hedges in my garden which I
keeptheedgessharpandthengivena can trim by eye and for these I use the
second trim in late August or early rechargeable battery-powered Bosch
September. Isio Shape and Edge (RRP £49.99), a
If you start trimming conifers when handy little cordless trimmer with two
they are small, long before they reach blades - one for edging and the other
the height and width you require, you for trimming shrubs and small hedges.
will build up a healthy, thick layer of Available in most DIY stores and
leafy growth over the entire surface of garden centres, it's one of the most
the hedge. useful power tools I possess.
If you are trimming a formal hedge, If you have a massive hedge, power
stretch a level string between two hedge-clippers with a long blade will
upright posts as a guide to height. be needed. Electric types are great
Be aware that falling off a ladder is provided the cable will reach far
the most common gardening accident, enough, or you could go for a petrol
so if the hedge is taller than shoulder model which doesn't involve any cable,
height you'll need a sturdy stepladder but these are much heavier to use.
and preferably someone to hold it for If you dread the thought of all the
you while you trim. clippings you will have to sweep up, try
Alternatively you could invest in a laying a dust sheet underneath the
proper hedge-clipping platform to hedge to save time and trouble.
stand on. Make sure you don't trip over
Pembrokeshire County Living 19
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