Hedge Care Tips from the Experts

According to a recent study trimming hedges is one of the least enjoyable gardening jobs. Apparently, its right down there with weeding and composting as people’s least favourite chores, with 47 percent of those asked rating it a tedious job. But with know how and the right equipment it can be a lot more fun. As with any job, using the right tools is half the batttle. Secateur Secateur is the small hand tool used to cut thin hedge branches. It is used for precion trimming and are an absolute must for anyone who wants to grow a nice hedge. A hedge becomes thick as a result of regular trimming where each cut gives rise to a branch. If the secateur is dull or if you use the wrong type, the cut won’t be clean. The bark will be squeezed and the flow of nutrients restricted. A branch might not develop, and in the worst case the cut-off branch can be attacked by rot. These problems can be avoided with a good secateur with sharp blades. • Invest in a quality secateur. Cheap models dull quickly and their poor mechanics tend to chew through the branch. • Choose a bypass model, where the blades move past each other, as with regular scissors. A secateur with a blade that cuts against an anvil (anvil secateur) should only be used to cut away dry, dead branches. • By using a secateur where the blades are angled in relation to the handles, it’s easier to get at branches in dense bushes. Hedge trimmer Hedge trimmers are used to trim and shape mature hedges. With an electric or petrol-powered model it’s easy to cut off projecting shoots and to keep the hedge shaped the way you want. There are two main types of cutting bars: single-sided and double-sided. The single-sided has teeth on one side of the blade, which means the bar can be made long, without it becoming too heavy. A double-sided bar, with teeth on both sides, cuts in both directions of the sweep. • Use a hedge trimmer that is light and well balanced. • Choose the right blade speed. For a dense hedge that is trimmed often, you can work more quickly if the blades move at high speed. With thicker branches, blade speed is not as important. Limbing Saw The Limbing, or hand saw is used for rejuvination pruning. The long handles of the saw provide good leverage when cutting thick branches. As the limbing saw can squash the branch, and block the flow of nutrients, it’s better to use a hand saw that is designed to reach into dense vegetation for really thick branches and stems. Trimming Tips: Get good results, safely • Run a string along the top of the hedge, as a guide. Trim a few centimetres above the string, to avoid cutting it. • If you have access to a construction laser level, use it instead of a string. The laser produces a perfectly horizontal line to cut along. • Check over the hedge carefully before you start cutting. Make sure there aren’t any overgrown gateposts, pieces of rubbish or anything else that the hedge trimmer can catch on. • Use protective eyewear, gloves and trousers. • Make sure no one comes close to you while you’re cutting. The sound of the shears, and your own concentration on the work, make you less aware of your surroundings. • Wear suitable footwear and watch your footing. • Never work from a ladder, stool or other raised surface that is not securely anchored.