Any hedge experts on here?.

[keithmac]

I cut the hedge this morning and noticed some "holes" in it at the bottom for want of a better word.

Whats best plan of attack here?, do I try and train some branches to come back down or can I plant something under the hedge to fill it out a bit?.

It seems fine at the front?.

Any input appreciated!.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

This is a privet no? (the one with small leaves)

If that is the case: If the sun can get to it, I t will leaf up soon enough. It's a good cut by the way, buy don't let the top taper wider than the bottom. That shades it out and the bottom will have holes and look weaker. Cut perfectly vertical or with the taper going slightly in as you go up.

Good work. Need a job in Somerset?

 

[keithmac]

Hello it is a privet hedge I believe, went vertical sides as you say. It's actually twice as long as that as I've managed to adopt next doors as well..

I'll leave it be for the time being then and see how it gets on.

Don't mind gardening now and then (spent all afternoon sorting the back out) but will stick to fixing motorcycles I think!.

 

[Ian H]

Regular cutting will help persuade it to thicken up. It looks rather as if it's been left for a while.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Hello it is a privet hedge I believe, went vertical sides as you say. It's actually twice as long as that as I've managed to adopt next doors as well..

I'll leave it be for the time being then and see how it gets on.

Don't mind gardening now and then (spent all afternoon sorting the back out) but will stick to fixing motorcycles I think!.

Are we sure we have a problem with the hedge? And not the local wildlife making use of the hedge.

 

[Dave 123]

As above- narrower top, broader bottom. This will allow light to the bottom of the hedge.

Privet will take a hard pruning, so you could take one side back to the trunks in the spring, leave it a year to grow, do the other side the following year if needed.

Also, if you reduce the height by a couple of feet it will encourage growth lower down.

As it's a hedge it will protect things from the elements, including itself. Give it some water on a regular basis. It would also benefit from some well rotted manure or/and leaf mould. I'd also apply some slow release fertiliser.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Mods: please delete this thread.......I think he should be using the Privet Message facility for this kind of question.

 

[Beebo]

A family friendly forum is no place for photos of a neatly trimmed bush!

 

[CanucksTraveller]

A family friendly forum is no place for photos of a neatly trimmed bush!

 

[keithmac]

Regular cutting will help persuade it to thicken up. It looks rather as if it's been left for a while.

It's the 3rd cut this year, took a foot off the top this morning as it was a pain in the behind to cut properly.

Went a bit more aggressive than normal with the sides to get it vertical and straight down the front and back..

 

[keithmac]

Neighbours now think I'm odd for taking a picture or my hedge, at night; in the rain but hey ho!

Never occured to me to water and feed it flr some reason, all a learning experience.

Don't think I'm brave enought to cut it hard back though.

 

[keithmac]

[QUOTE 4909201, member: 259"]It's dying off a bit, so it could be the start of honey fungus. If it is, you'll have to dig it up and replace it with a proper hedge like yew.[/QUOTE]

I think it's quite health on the whole, been here longer than we've owned the house (12+ years).

Would be a shame if it did die off as I'd be having a wall instead..

 

[Ian H]

Yew does make a fine hedge. But even these, which look fine from a distance, do have holes here and there.

 

[Dave 123]

[QUOTE 4909355, member: 259"]Sorry, last yew fan boy post. If you have yew hedge clippings here, they'll come and fetch them all and take them away for free. They use it for cancer treatment drugs.[/QUOTE]


Free? Are you sure?

Wouldn't they tax us?

 

[Ian H]

[QUOTE 4909336, member: 259"]Stunning. Where's that?[/QUOTE]
http://www.la-ballue.com/fr/chambres-d-hotes-bretagne

...Wouldn't they tax us?

[groan!]