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Care of box hedge

Shirley JonesShirley Jones Posts: 3
in Talkback

Hi

My daughter has recently moved into a another house with a big mostly lawned but there is a formal garden with a box hedge and roses in the middle, When is the best time to clip the hedge, and should we do it by hand or with a hedge trimmer?

Would appreciate your help with this.

Thanks

Posts

  • UnknownUnknown

    Hi, Shirley......the time honoured date amongst gardeners of he old school is for clipping box on Derby Day, not to be adhered to too rigidly, but it does  help to focus the mind on early June. You may wish to clip again in September, but just be wary of not clipping prior to frosty weather.

    I prefer clipping mine by hand (cos I'm old fashioned), believing damage can be caused by cutting back too hard with those darned leccy thingies.

  • Shirley JonesShirley Jones Posts: 3

    Hi David

    Thank you for the helpful information

  • Lily PillyLily Pilly Posts: 3,845

    Hi Shirley, we have a lot of box hedging and sadly have the dreaded blight.

    we try to brush away as much of the rubbish underneath the hedge before we cut,

    like David I prefer the sharpness of a hand clip.

    oh and we always give it a foliage seaweed feed in the spring. 

    Box can be a lot of work but I think it is worth it.  Good luck

    Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
    A A Milne
  • Shirley JonesShirley Jones Posts: 3

    Hi Lilly

    Thanks for that, I had heard that it was better to use hand shears.

     

     

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    I do use an electric trimmer to do clients box hedging, but for those not used to doing it with machines, I would recommend shears and lines to guide you.

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