Hedges can act as privacy barriers, boundaries or as protection against the winds, and are worth keeping in good order, as they also visually complement your yard or garden.
When trimming the hedge, trusting what you see as you cut the hedge is not a good thing. Once you stand back and assess the work, you are likely to see wobbly bits, uncut patches, and unless experienced, anything but a sharp straight line.
Related Post: Check out my review of the GTech Cordless Hedge Trimmer.
While there are many methods and procedures advised to give a nice, clean edge to your hedge, the following advice will give you professional results!
Preparation
For this particular method, you will need six pieces of equipment to get set up:
- String
- Stakes
- Hammer
- String
- Hedge trimmer
- Unit for clipping disposal.
Method
- Cut the string the length of the hedge, and some extra, to enable the string to be tied to the stakes.
- Secure a stake into the ground at each end of the hedge by hammering the stake lightly into the ground. Place length and width wise as needed.
- Tie the string on to each stake, at the height you wish to trim the hedge to. The string will now act as a guide to the height you should be trimming to.
- Trim the hedge down to the lowest point, following the string as a height guide.
Once these four simple steps have been executed, you will find you have a hedge looking as though it has been cut by a professional.
Additional Tips
There are many varieties of hedges, which need cut and cared for differently. It is also possible to grow a hedge that will produce lovely scented flowers, such as hydrangeas. Light pruning of the hedge by hand held secateurs is ideal in between trims with the
motorised equipment, and this short clipping encourages a thick re-growth. Clipping back ‘straggling’ branches is also desirable at the early stages, sometimes to as much as one third of the hedge.
Although this may seem a little drastic, it will encourage a dense and even re-grow, promoting a healthy, vibrant and even hedge. Safety is always a paramount consideration, and some thought should be given to this before any work is started.
Ensure children cannot access the cutting equipment, as the powered blades can be unforgiving in the wrong hands.
Also make sure to clean as you go, so as not to cause an obstruction to you, and always keep the cord secured and away from the blades, as a severe electric shock can be given if severed, and may even lead to death. Some equipment has a safety device which closes off the blades as soon as it is not being used, preventing an unmanned machine carrying on, and potentially causing horrific damage. It is important not to over reach when trimming, either on or off a ladder, as it can be fairly easy to lose your balance if you are looking constantly at the hedge. Some essential safety equipment includes:
- Dust mask
- Goggles
- Gloves
- Ear protecting equipment
Remember to keep pet animals and very young children away from the area as you cut, as concentrating on one thing can make you miss something which is quite obvious, and this puts the trimmer in un-needed danger.
It’s also worth pointing out here that I have reviewed the GTech falcon lawnmower which is an excellent cordless electric mower.