Hedge cutting, a bit at a time early each morning before it got too hot. That meant I could laze about in the heat of the day knowing that a good bit of work had already been done - so no guilt!
Here's part done after day 1, on the right of the front of the house - easy with the electric hedge cutter - it's the clearing up afterwards I hate. After forking up all the cuttings I run the small mower right up against the bottom of the hedge to finish tidying it up.
But that still left so much more to do - left hand bit of the hedge at the front of the house. There's one perennial Sweet pea that always appears there at the end of the hedge.
Then all the way up the side and around the top bit between me and next door neighbours, at least I only have to do one side of this greater length as Mr Next Door does the top and their side. Although it's mainly Hawthorn and full of brambles so a pricklier job.
I didn't get all the way up the side last week, so a bit more to do this week, but I'll get there........ eventually.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
You will gt there and I totally agree with the 'get it done early = no guilt' thing. It's looking good.
ReplyDeletexx
The trimmed hedge looks so neat. As you say, it's the clearing up afterwards that's the bind.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like hard work. We always used to lay an old sheet at the foot of the hedge to catch any clippings. X
ReplyDeleteWell done Sue. I fortunately don't have any hedges but I try to use the electric hedge trimmer to tidy up our heathers but I find the trimmer to be so heavy and therefore difficult to manipulate.
ReplyDeleteImagine doing that the old fashioned way with garden shears. My shoulders ache at the very idea.
ReplyDeleteI forced myself to mow the lawns yesterday, felt very virtuous once they were done so I read a bit more of 'Fighting Fit', which I am still enjoying. It has answered so many of my unspoken questions about rationing and wartime.
I've never ever had a decent pair of shears and no I wouldn't want to do all the hedge with shears either. Think I'd change to a fence!
DeleteI'm thinking about re-reading 'Fighting Fit as there are a couple of bits I wanted to write about on a blog post.
That's a beastly job, but you've done well. I find I prefer working in the evenings as the sun is mostly off my garden by then. I just wish my trimmer wasn't so unwieldy!
ReplyDeleteYou have made a good job of the hedge Sue. The wind is very, very strong here today and cold. I am going to make a few cards for a change to crocheting.
ReplyDeleteHazel c uk 🌈🌈🌈
Difficult to tell from the angle of the shot whether the hedge is low or high. Do you have to use a step ladder?
ReplyDeleteOut the front isn't as tall as me so easy to reach but up the side is about 5 foot six and harder, so I only do the side and the top I can reach - definitely NO stepladder, the ground is so uneven
DeleteThe couple who live opposite me decided to tackle their hedge too on the two hottest days of the year. I was exhausted just watvhing them.
ReplyDeleteI was indoors again by 10 so not too bad
DeleteMy electric trimmer is a bit heavy so I keep nipping out with the garden shears every time I see some straggly bits emerging. Then hoover the bits up with the mower. It's a job you have to keep on top of or else you could be faced with mountains of clippings to dispose of.
ReplyDeleteMy bonfire heap is HUGE!
DeleteA big job well done! Slow and steady wins the race and doing it in stages isn't quite so daunting. As long as the weather holds you should have it finished this week.
ReplyDeleteWell done Sue, another job that's probably traditionally done by the man of the house (husband does ours), but which you get on and tackle by yourself. I'm not sure I could, but I guess it's amazing what we can do when we have to! One day I might need to find out....
ReplyDeleteI thought I couldn't but found I could!
DeleteThat's a lovely neat job. I like getting all the jobs done early, before I've even eaten breakfast some days when it's hot, then I can chill out and if anyone asks 'what did you do today' at least I have a small list of accomplishments already under my belt.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it with me not being able to fully relax without feeling a tad guilty. I need to cure myself of this!!
Wish I had some of your energy but a good job done. I agree, the clearing up is the worst.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
Tell us what time you start cutting (and make the rest of us feel like lazy lay-in-beds).
ReplyDeleteNot THAT early - have to wake up, get going and have breakfast first!
DeleteLovely leafy lane you live on. Hedges are such a blessing and a curse aren't they. A previous owner planted a pyracanthus hedge on one side of ours. There is no physical way to safely collect up the clippings. We used to refer to it as the 'murdering d....d hedge'. The hawthorn possibly shares similar features - so good luck with the onward journey around your boundary.
ReplyDeleteWe had a pyracantha up the side of the front door at the smallholding - it was lethal - had to tackle it often to save the postman getting injured
DeleteThat's not a fun job even when it isn't hot, so bravo you.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of hedge! My neighbour was doing her side of their conifers in the heat - she was like a weatherman in and out all day doing a bit and resting a bit but she battled on and got it all done just in time for the rain.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was at Cambridge (35 years ago) I noticed the gardeners there spread tarpaulins under the hedges to catch the clippings, then just folded them up and carted them away or tipped them into a barrow. I try to follow their example whenever possible.
ReplyDeleteYou should come and trim the hedge at my daughter's new house. It's a privet hedge that hasn't been tamed in years. I told my son in law he could cut it way back and still have a hedge. They need to buy electric trimmers. He used a hand trimmer to get the branches that were in the pathway to the side of their house but will need a stepladder and something sharper to do the rest.
ReplyDeleteGosh, that will take some time but they always look fantastic once done.
ReplyDeleteOh my that is a big job - but you're doing wonderfully!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Sue, Rome wasn't built in a day.
ReplyDeleteYou do great work! That hedge really looks neat and tidy. You are smart to go out early and to not try to do at all at once. Bit by Bit things get done and you will feel better for not over doing it.
ReplyDeleteThat is a complex job. Well done.
ReplyDeleteGolly, that's a biiiig job! You're brave and sensible in tackling it in small bites. What you've achieved looks very professional. Well done.
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago, I decided the huge front hedge would have to go. It was a conifer hedge, over 8ft high and 6ft wide in parts, overhanging the pavement by a couple of feet - and the council had put a notice in the local paper that if overhanging hedges weren't cut back, they would do the job and send us the bill. So that went, now replaced by a low fence. As for the rest of the high hedges, I cut them myself until last year, but now at 75 years old and arthritic, I employ a local gardener to do the job. Such a relief - he does a brilliant job and takes away all the cuttings, leaving it very tidy.
ReplyDeleteI do love to see a neat hedge and yours is very neat indeed. You're doing a great job.