Best bet would be to put the daughters trampoline (obligatory nowadays) over in the corner where he committed the offence and give him the pleasure of having her going in and out of view for hours on end with the Wheeeee that accompanies such activity.
Barber Miche, I think you're being very sensible about the situation. Keep the rest of the hedge well trimmed (maybe reduce the height slightly initially so it doesn't look so abrupt) and I think you may be surprised how quickly the cut section catches up.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Believe me, I have been trying to get my new Portuguese Laurel hedge to grow to attain 3.5 metres height ( the first thing our new neighbours did was buy a large trampoline for their brood, ) Despite much fertilisation, watering and coaxing it is only up to 2.25 metres and at the rate of growth (300mm pa)i is going to take another two years to blot them out. Trouble is the kids are growing just as fast
I think Privet Hedge is a hungry plant and a thirsty one too. I've found that soil under a Privet Hedge to be very dry even after rain.
I find that a seriously good watering for a good few hours before a liquid feed every couple of weeks works a treat even if its been raining.
The more often a Privet Hedge is cut back the faster it fights back too. A light trimming fortnightly even if you think it doesn't need trimming is better than cutting it 2 or 3 times a season and you don't get overwhelmed by the volume of clippings to get rid of or compost.
In any holes and low down nip off the growing tips between your thumb and finger, this encourages vigorous new growth / bushing out. A long boring laborious job though but those holes quickly fill up and your hedge soon looks good all the way down to the ground.
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Boater, oi, be careful about throwing around advice about cutting hedges back to bare wood!
It all depends on what plants the hedge is made of. Some answer very well to the treatment, some don't, at all.
"Hedge" is a very generic term... it's still made of plants, and different species often need (or tolerate... or not) different treatments.
Best bet would be to put the daughters trampoline (obligatory nowadays) over in the corner where he committed the offence and give him the pleasure of having her going in and out of view for hours on end with the Wheeeee that accompanies such activity.
He would wish he had never touched the hedge.
Hahaha! I love your thinking, Curmudgeon!
Barber Miche, I think you're being very sensible about the situation. Keep the rest of the hedge well trimmed (maybe reduce the height slightly initially so it doesn't look so abrupt) and I think you may be surprised how quickly the cut section catches up.
Believe me, I have been trying to get my new Portuguese Laurel hedge to grow to attain 3.5 metres height ( the first thing our new neighbours did was buy a large trampoline for their brood, ) Despite much fertilisation, watering and coaxing it is only up to 2.25 metres and at the rate of growth (300mm pa)i is going to take another two years to blot them out. Trouble is the kids are growing just as fast
Brilliant thinking, Curmudgeon!
I think Privet Hedge is a hungry plant and a thirsty one too. I've found that soil under a Privet Hedge to be very dry even after rain.
I find that a seriously good watering for a good few hours before a liquid feed every couple of weeks works a treat even if its been raining.
The more often a Privet Hedge is cut back the faster it fights back too. A light trimming fortnightly even if you think it doesn't need trimming is better than cutting it 2 or 3 times a season and you don't get overwhelmed by the volume of clippings to get rid of or compost.
In any holes and low down nip off the growing tips between your thumb and finger, this encourages vigorous new growth / bushing out. A long boring laborious job though but those holes quickly fill up and your hedge soon looks good all the way down to the ground.