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box hedge to wide and leaning over

hi I have inherited a problem in a box hedge which is to wide and leaning over.

it is 3 feet high 2 feet wide and 10 feet long it has been allowed to grow to wide and is now leaning over it is in a rose garden and the side in question is what you see as you walk through the garden. here image is everything so hard pruning might not be an option can I support it using wire or netting or if I have to prune when should I do it how much should I cut and how long will it take to recover any help please.

Bulkerb

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Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    I'd cut it hard back making it a foot in width and 2 feet in height in a few weeks' time.  Clear out any grass and weeds growing in the bottom and a feed of Fish, blood and bone and as Verdun says, a good mulch. 

    It'll rejuvenate it and grow back thick and strong very quickly.  image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016

    It will look bad when first cut back but it will recover.

  • bulkerbbulkerb Posts: 258

    Ok thanks for the advice i kind of new but wanted reasurance now just have to convince the owner

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142
    Pauline 7 wrote (see)

    Show them this page image image

    And ask them if they want things to be done properly, or if they really want their garden to remain an untidy mess image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • bulkerbbulkerb Posts: 258

    Thanks to all of you i have convinced the owner that it has to be done in a few weeks and they have agreed.

    However i am only cutting back the worst hedge this season if all goes well whi h it will i will do the others next year remember rome was not built in a day.

    Finally it makes me wonder how some gardeners are so lazy around good people who know nothing about plants like my predesesser 

  • Brilliant image  When you cut it back make sure you shape it so that it's wider at the bottom than the top - keep it that way and the problem won't happen again. image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • bulkerbbulkerb Posts: 258

    just to say I put a line on the hedge to demonstrate what I needed to cut off and the owner nearly fell over surfice to say she has put a hold on it so its going to stay ugly for a while longer but thanks for all the advice

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