The Perfect Hedge

Hedges can define a garden; frame it, define its spaces. But obtaining the perfect hedge can be tricky, and requires planning, skill and attention to detail. Modern garden designs refer to the garden as a room. When large, open areas are divided up, the garden becomes more alive and easier to furnish with flowerbeds, rocky areas and other planted sections. The hedge, which creates a boundary without closing in like a wall or a fence, is perfect for creating the sense of the garden as a room. To choose the right hedge it is important to know which climatic zone you are in. Your local nursery can tell you which types of plants are most suitable. Then you must decide on the function of the hedge. If you want it to frame your garden and give privacy, it should be dense and evergreen. If your property is small, plant a hedge that can be grown very thin. And If you’re in a hurry for your privacy you may want to buy a fast-growing variety. Find out whether the hedge you have chosen has a multi-branched or a single trunk. This is of vital importance to how it should be trimmed as it grows. If multi-branched, it should be cut down to 15 cm above ground level when it is planted, and then cut down about 20 cm every spring, to make it branch out into a thick hedge. If it has a single trunk it shouldn’t be trimmed until it reaches its final height. Cutting it too early makes it stop growing. When planting the hedge, dig out a 50 cm wide planting hole and add plenty of fertiliser. Humus makes the soil porous and light, so the plant’s roots can grow easily. Pull out any weeds and bulbs, and water liberally once the plants are in the ground. Consider safety issues if the hedge borders a busy street. It shouldn’t grow so tall that it can obscure people’s vision. Check with the local authorities about the regulations that apply in your area. So how should the hedge be maintained? Here is the forest and garden guide to the tools of the trade. Secateur A secateur is the small hand tool used to cut the thin hedge branches. 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. The Limbing Saw The long handles of the limbing saw provide good leverage when cutting thick branches, and is used for rejuvination pruning. Trimming tips • 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.