It's a bit of an underwhelming picture, but I have been working this year to reduce the amount of ivy in this front hedge. We did a big hack back today (to curb its wild enthusiam) and I'm really pleased. In ten years, it's never looked so coherent as today. I don't really go for 'coherence' as a thing in my gardening, but as a street ornament, it feels more important to not have a wild, shaggy monster, blob without shape or sense of design about it. It was ill conceived as a hedge probably four or five owners ago - decades back. I don't want to take it out, but, as a word to the wise - grow a huge holly tree and then, decades later, decide to turn it into a hedge instead. It doesn't really work. Also, growing a big, spiky hedge next to a narrow bit of pavement isn't that bright of a plan.
Thank you so much @Valley Gardener, it’s nice hear that from another gardener! I decided to buy this house when I saw the layout of the garden, even though it had been neglected for a year and was full of weeds. There’s not much left of the original plants, just a couple of mature trees that are still doing very well. Sandy soil and an eight foot hedge in my neighbour’s garden restricting the afternoon sun make it quite challenging!
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Love the shaping and different levels.
Wish it was mine!
And good work on the holly. I have a holly hedge on one side of my house and it's a beast to (attempt to) tame.
I don’t post pictures very often but here is a small collection to reflect early Autumn in my garden: