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           Hedges  although rarely  planted in  recent times  are
           once  more back  in  vogue.  They probably  lost their
           popularity   because  of   the  necessary  maintenance
           required to keep them looking their best.

           Today however with so many and varied powered tools to
           simplify the clipping, pruning and shearing of hedges,
           it is no longer an arduous task.

           There  is no  escaping the  added beauty  a hedge  can
           bring to  your garden. The  privacy from prying  eyes,
           the protection  from the elements, and  the cool green
           natural barrier  they provide, not only  is restful to
           the eyes  but blends perfectly into  the landscape and
           gives shelter to birds and wildlife.

           When planting  a hedge it  is better to  form a trench
           rather than to plant into individual holes. By digging
           a  trench you  improve the  soil in  the direction you
           want the hedge to grow.

           Add  large quantities  of organic  compost and  animal
           manures and work well into the soil.

           For  a single  hedgerow the  trench should  be half  a
           metre  wide. If  you want  to keep  animals and people
           out, then  plant two rows  of hedge with  a chain wire
           fence  in the  middle. As  the hedge  grows, the chain
           wire fence will become quite invisible.

           A formal hedge needs to  be clipped two to three times
           per year. Clipping should produce a hedge wider at the
           base than at the top. This will allow the sun to reach
           the base  of the hedge  and so maintain  healthy, even
           and vigorous growth.

           An informal  hedge can be  left to grow  with only the
           need for  a little judicious  pruning while young,  to
           train the  hedge to grow in  the desired direction and
           to assist it in growing thickly.


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