In this section
Hedge care
Tools for clipping and trimming
Hedge shears and hedge-trimmers (petrol or electric) for hedges and big topiary plants. Single-handed sheep shears or topiary shears for precisely clipping topiary and edging.
Secateurs for large leaved hedges, such as laurel, whose leaves would be left ragged by shears or hedge trimmers. We supply a range a maintenance tools to keep your hedging in perfect form.
Fertilisers and Irrigation
To get the best result from your hedging we recommend that you a slow release fertiliser and compost top soil, to keep your hedging looking in the best contrition soon as it is planted. This can also be help by setting up an irrigation system to make maintenance of the hedging a simple and low as possible, so you can just enjoy your new instant hedge!
Leafy formal hedges
Topiary and leafy, formal hedges such as beech or conifers will need clipping twice a year (around June and again in late August) if you want them looking perfect all year round. Although, you can get away with just the late August cut if you don’t mind your hedges looking a bit ‘woody on the ends’ during the summertime.
Trim fast-growing formal hedges, for example privet, about every six weeks from May to September, so they don’t get away from you.
Clip mini hedges of dwarf box used to outline borders and knot gardens in May time
Clipping and trimming
In a nutshell, as long as you clip out the new shoot tips, the stems below will branch out, thus making the hedge thicker. Clipping allows you to shape a hedging or topiary plants.
Not all hedges have to be uniform and precise in outline. There are a number of hedging types that can be used for creating more relaxed and informal hedges, sometimes with a display of flowers as a bonus. These need a different clipping system, but success relies on choosing the best approach and the right time of year.
The key skill is on deciding when to do it, to minimise the amount you have to do!