Trim a Straight and Floral Hedge

Trim a Straight and Floral Hedge

August is a good time to trim your hedges and create a neat appearance for autumn and winter.

When of Hedge Trimming.

  • When birds have flown their nests you can trim to your hearts content without disturbing the fledglings.
  • Try to prune a wild life hedge only after the fruit have been eaten in late winter.
  • Trimming in late summer leaves enough time for hedges to to put on a bit of new growth to cover ravaged twigs.
  • Do not trim conifers later than August as they may go brown and unsightly.
  • Prune flowering hedges straight after flowering.

The How of Hedge Trimming

  • To achieve a flat top stretch taught string to provide a horizontal plumb line.
  • To make a bend in the hedge use double stakes with the string as in the photograph.
  • Trim a hedge from the bottom upwards so trimmings fall away.
  • Use secateurs to tidy up after trimmers if they leave a mess.
  • Beech, Privet, Holly and Hawthorn all recover from hard pruning. Conifers will not regrow from brown wood.

Flowering Hedges

  • Camellia will form an evergreen barrier.
  • Forsythia has brilliant yellow flowers in spring but works best in a mixed hedge.
  • Berberis creates a dense, thorny  hedge with spring flowers  and autumn berries. Deciduous and evergreen varieties are available.
  • Upright hardy varieties of Fuchsia can look good in a warm garden.
  • Lavender’s fragrant flowers add to an informal low hedge.
  • Informal hedges of large leaved Laurel are often found in old gardens

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