A THOUSAND WORDS - Alex Waterhouse-Hayward's blog on pictures, plants, politics and whatever else is on his mind.




 

A Holy Grail Prune Job
Saturday, May 20, 2006




There is one garden chore that I am ambivalent about. This is my very long, wrap around, laurel hedge (Prunus lusitanicus). I have been pruning it since 1986. In 1992 I decided to achieve the "Holy Grail" of pruning by using only secateurs (above right). It took me a week. Since then I have found that if I do it now I only have to do it once in the year. I don't use electric hedge clippers as they don't cut off all the leaves or some of the thicker stems. These yellow in a few weeks and the hedge is unsightly. I use hand hedge clippers, which this year I had sharpened. It will take two days of this Victoria Day weekend.



     

Previous Posts
Mystery Peony

Rhododendron luteum

The Toy Boat and the Manila Doll House

Martin Sheen

Jane Austin Coop - Muse

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake'

Madeleine Morris's Mouth

Marthe's Lovely Foot

Vancouver - Post Nuclear

John Hurt In Bed



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