Index:
- Page 1 Removing the Old Hedge (this page)
- Page 2 Replanting the Hedge
- Page 3 2009 Season
- Gallery of Growth
Removing the Front Hedge
The hedge in the front of the house is an overgrown Leylandii. Ghastly! but also impossible to get back to being a smart clipped shape – you can’t cut them back to old wood as they don’t regrow.
We took the top off it back in February 2007
Hedge topped (Feb 2007)
but it was still 8 feet thick, and shaggy
Front hedge, April 2007
so by the Summer of 2008 we had decided it had to go.
I haven’t got any really good pictures of what we are trying to achieve, but we want some topiary yew (on the house-side) with a Beech (maybe Copper Beech) hedge behind, but which also “sticks-out” between each topiary yew:
The Plan
This shows some views of the Topiary and the “sticky-out” hedge in between.
Topiary Style
and this shows how the Topiary shaping of the Yews might look – similar to Pawns in Chess. I am working on the basis that, ultimately, the Yews might be 8 feet in diameter, at the bottom.
(These pictures are from Château de Berzé-le-Châtel just west of Mâcon, France)
Work started on 16 October 2008
Hedge removal starts
Midway through removal
I hired a Digger to remove the stumps, and then the large shrubs (to the left of the picture below)
Removing the stumps
Once I had removed the large shrubs too it opened it up!
Large shrubs removed
I moved the large shrubs to an area of the garden where we plan to make a herbaceous border. They will do to fill-in the area at the back of the bed
Shrubs ready for replanting
then I dug a trench ready for the new hedge – what was looking pretty tidy will now look a mess until the hedging plants arrive
Trench dug for the new hedge
We had a large pile of grass clippings from the last 3 years, so I used the opportunity of having the digger here to move it, and provide some “compost” for the new hedge.
I plan to plant the new hedge before the end of November
I also dug some planting holes for a row of pleached lime trees which we are planting to replace one of the Lombardy Poplar rows, and a number of holes in the “spit” for some new trees.
Great attitude,
Had few years of maintenance (myself and teams) since not very keen on hedges.
Also think that we have enough walls indoor so why in the garden.
Topiary can add lots but need people with vision that seemed that you were blessed with.
once again I enjoyed your Blog
Hedges need cutting, of course, but I do like to make “rooms” in a garden. I can’t abide Leylandii though … its fine if it is kept clipped into a nice shape, but sadly the ones here were neglected long before we moved in.
I’ve seen a Leylandii hedge near here “revived” by cutting it right down, and letting it regrow on just one side. I’ll take a picture next time I’m passing, because I’ve not seen it done that way before – and a picture will explain it better than my wibble …
Hi – I was looking for something completely different when I stumbled across your blog. Which is very good, by the way, but imagine my surprise as I read down the front garden hedging project. First I saw what looked like an Ashridge Trees pallet, then a Nightfreight lorry (btw I think most of their drivers are grumpy but there is not much choice with odd shaped parcels).
Then I saw someparcels on the grass that were unquestionably from Ashridge Trees and since Ashridge is my business I had to drop you a line. I hope they have all grown for you (if not please remember we guarantee our plants and replace them if their deaths are reported in a reasonable period. If they have and if you are happy with them, we would love a plug on the blog…
Hopefully this rainy weatehr is helping them all along nicely, but drop me a mail if you have any problems.
Best
Julian
Thanks Julian. I’m a big fan of your trees and hedge plants. All were good quality, well packaged.
Wow! What a great job on the hedge. Are the “fingers” going to be clipped like a butress, or are you going to keep them square? Lots of great ideas for my garden!
My plan was to keep them square, but I hadn’t thought about buttress-shaped. I’ll keep it in mind as they get bigger and see what will look best.
Thanks for your encouragement!
I look forward to seeing more pictures as the front hedge grows! Your garden will be and is now, amazing!