Hedge Pruning

By Author: Dylan Emerson
Total Articles: 10
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As hedges are often used to define the boundaries of your garden or the edge of your land, hedge trimming and hedge pruning can be extremely important practices in the overall look and upkeep of your land or garden. Depending on the variety of hedge they can be shaped into statuesque shapes, as objects or people; this is called topiary.

In order to trim or prune a hedge, you must be sure that you have the correct equipment. This comes in the form of hedge shears, garden stakes, gloves to protect from thorns, string, and safety goggles to protect against any stray twigs and branches.

If you are doing a small scale job, shears should suffice. However, if you are attempting a large scale job, a powered trimmer is the best option; coming in electrically powered, or rechargeable battery powered form.

There are many factors that need considering when trimming a hedge:

The type - deciduous or evergreen shrubs

The age - young or mature

The reason for trimming - retaining a pre existing garden edge, or adding something extra to the garden

The season - pre winter or pre summer garden ...
... work can affect what should be done

In an ideal world, it is best to trim young hedges after three weeks of planting them, allowing natural lateral growth. If a hedge is new, it should be trimmed only by a few inches and from its top, to encourage lateral growth.

To level a hedge, you should use sticks and rope to guide your ideal level, so that you don't have to work by eye and take off more than is necessary, resulting in a lopsided or generally uneven hedge. Additionally, only outgrowth should be trimmed, so that the hedge maintains its shape fully.

Hedge trimming and hedge pruning should ideally take place in mid to late summer, giving enough time for it to grow back prior to winter, regaining its strength. Also for this reason, trimming should take place over time, with intervals, so not to over trim the hedge, causing weakness and a messy shape.

To get your garden started, it is often advisable to enlist the help of professionals, at a minimal cost, who will provide you with a blank canvas which you can sculpt into your own vision. This way, you will not have to worry about all the complicated aspects of starting a garden from scratch.

Know more about: http://www.edsgardenmaintenance.co.uk