Verdun - I wouldn't plant box hedging around my veg patch any more than I'd plant two ash trees at the end of our garden - but they're there, beautiful and full of birds, and I'll enjoy their beauty and wildlife and put up with their roots under and through all the beds and the veg patch and seeds everywhere and even pay to have their crowns thinned from time to time until they're too big to cope with or until Ash Dieback gets them. I couldn't remove them in cold blood.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'd follow swiss sues recommendation and join them up. Sorry Verdun I love box hedging. I also like Doves recommendation of removing some of the hedge and creating topiary from the rest.
What I might do is just leave them this year and have a good think about it. If Im leaning more towards removal, I may join them as SwissSue advised.. If I still feel strong about removing them I may have to just go for it the following year. I find the roots a little menacing and worry about what impact they have on the Veg?!
I just have to find the balance.. But as Im a novice its hard to decide as I know they have spent a great deal of time on it
I have box hedging round my front rose and perennial bed and love it but it measures 7m x 4m and had trellis for a climbing rose at one end so doesn't take up masses of space. The box hedge gets an annual trim around Derby day. My veggie beds are all raised beds using roof beams which I find very practical.
I think you should do as Swiss Sue says and try taking out the middle hedges to make bigger beds and see how that goes for a year or two. Then you can decide whether the box hedging adds or detracts and have the option of clearing the rest or keeping it accordingly.
It's easy enough to make regular light scatterings of organic slug pellets to deal with any slugs and sanils and you may well find the box shelters beneficial insects and keps cold breezes off young seedlings so you get better crops.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
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Verdun - I wouldn't plant box hedging around my veg patch any more than I'd plant two ash trees at the end of our garden - but they're there, beautiful and full of birds, and I'll enjoy their beauty and wildlife and put up with their roots under and through all the beds and the veg patch and seeds everywhere and even pay to have their crowns thinned from time to time until they're too big to cope with or until Ash Dieback gets them. I couldn't remove them in cold blood.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'd follow swiss sues recommendation and join them up. Sorry Verdun I love box hedging. I also like Doves recommendation of removing some of the hedge and creating topiary from the rest.
Some good points and Im still torn..
What I might do is just leave them this year and have a good think about it. If Im leaning more towards removal, I may join them as SwissSue advised.. If I still feel strong about removing them I may have to just go for it the following year. I find the roots a little menacing and worry about what impact they have on the Veg?!
I just have to find the balance.. But as Im a novice its hard to decide as I know they have spent a great deal of time on it
Thanks again all.. Oh i do love a good debate
Dovefromabove.. Love the Charles Jones shots!
Hey Bluebaron
Im over in Dilwyn, Hereforshire..
Im a bit confused, is box expensive ? Why would this contributed £ to my property as mentioned by dovefromabove?
I have box hedging round my front rose and perennial bed and love it but it measures 7m x 4m and had trellis for a climbing rose at one end so doesn't take up masses of space. The box hedge gets an annual trim around Derby day. My veggie beds are all raised beds using roof beams which I find very practical.
I think you should do as Swiss Sue says and try taking out the middle hedges to make bigger beds and see how that goes for a year or two. Then you can decide whether the box hedging adds or detracts and have the option of clearing the rest or keeping it accordingly.
It's easy enough to make regular light scatterings of organic slug pellets to deal with any slugs and sanils and you may well find the box shelters beneficial insects and keps cold breezes off young seedlings so you get better crops.
Some people like clipping little hedges. I dont. To me it just gets in the way. There might be someone local who would take it off your hands.
Personally I would rip the lot out, and make a useful veg plot. I suspect you would double your functional space.