What are hedges?
Hedges can be defined as the line of closely planted trees and shrubs that are grown in a way to form barriers in order to demarcate boundaries between two properties. For example hedges separate roads from fields, or one field from another. Hedges with larger trees are known as hedge grows. A gardener can also use a hedge as a windbreak to improve the growing conditions for adjacent crops. The same hedge when clipped, trimmed and maintained form unique topiary. Hedge laying is a technique of creating and maintaining the hedges.
Ever wondered about the best way to spice up the fences around your home garden?
You could go the traditional route and paint over your fences to give it some colour, but what if there was a more innovative way to do this? How about building an existing fence?
That’s exactly what a hedge is supposed to be! In ancient times, hedges were laid around farms to prevent livestock from escaping. But they were also a good way of promoting new growth and utilizing everything that your garden has to offer. Buy hedge shears online in India.
Though initially, hedge laying can seem a bit tricky, but you only need more practice to master it and become a pro hedge layer!
Here’s how you can get started with hedge laying:
1. Creating hedge with overgrown shrubs
The main aim as you get started is to reduce excessive overgrown shrubs and trees around the edge of your garden in order to transform it into a beautiful hedge. The first thing to do is to reduce the thickness of these hedgerow trees by cutting away some of the wood on one side of the main stems.
This has to be in line with which way you want to lay the hedge. It also cleans up the excess outgrowths and encourages new growth.
2. Pleaching or Plashing:
Next is the most important technique of hedge laying called “pleaching”. This involves making a deep cut into the stems at just above ground level to make it lean over at an angle. However, the stem shouldn’t end up exactly horizontal with the ground, which would restrict it from transporting sap throughout the plant.
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Image Source: http://www.shropshirehedgelaying.co.uk[/caption]Once you’ve cut all the stems in this manner and have them laying horizontal, it’s time to strengthen them with some support. Drive some upright stakes along the length of the entire hedge at a distance of approximately 45-50 cm. Ensure that these stakes are sturdy enough to be hammered into the ground.
Now, bind your stakes together to complete your support system and ensure that your hedge will thrive on its own. Use hazel rods/binders, heathers or weavers, to tie all these stakes together. This will also give a fairly attractive top to your hedges.
Finally, once your hedges have been laid, just cut out the excess stumps to give a cleaner look to your hedge and encourage more growth. Eventually, your hedge will grow around the system you’ve established into a thriving living fence. You would like to read about ways of creating beautiful garden border fences.
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Image Source: http://2ff8n03drmib1b12373aauek-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com[/caption]Like we’ve said, hedge laying can be tricky, to begin with, but it gets a lot easier if you have the right tools of the trade. Start with gloves, glasses, saws, a mallet, loppers and billhooks.
If you aren’t sure of what these are, then head over to ugaoo.com to stock up on supplies and become an expert hedge layer!
