Any gardeners out there?

hbrac · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 1:59 pm Post subject:

I am looking for some advice about when is the best time to cut back. We have a 3ft Hebe hedge all round the garden.At the moment there are no purple flower spikes ontop. I want to cut it down to about 2ft in height and trim the sides to square it off ready for next season. When do I do this?

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Impotence..Nature's way of saying "No hard feelings,"

suki1964 · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 4:21 pm Post subject:

I think hebe should be cut back after it finishes flowering. I dont think I would risk it this time of year, maybe wait till early spring after the frosts have cleared

hbrac · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 4:25 pm Post subject:

That sounds sensible Suki. I have just posted in the forum suggestions for a Gardening forum. It would help those like me who are not very clued up on gardening.
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Impotence..Nature's way of saying "No hard feelings,"

newbutt1 · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 6:57 pm Post subject:

definitely when the frost has finished, cutting it back now is opening it up to frost damage

jayne
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hbrac · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 7:00 pm Post subject:

My gardener did a bunk and I noticed that the fuschia hadn't been cut back so I did it this morning

It's quite big and well established with thick branches so I hope it will be OK

_________________

Impotence..Nature's way of saying "No hard feelings,"

newbutt1 · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 7:04 pm Post subject:

You'll probably be OK providing that there isn't a frost for the next few days

jayne
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hbrac · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 7:09 pm Post subject:

Perhaps I should cover it with a blanket

My neighbours already think I'm barmy for doing the garden as they were returning from a party at 10am!!
_________________

Impotence..Nature's way of saying "No hard feelings,"

Pam7 · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 7:38 pm Post subject:

Hi Hilary!!!

guest will know the answer I'm sure

....think he's still recovering from New Years Eve though - not seen him about today!!!!

hbrac · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 7:55 pm Post subject:

Pam...he went to York but I'm not sure when he's due back.
_________________

Impotence..Nature's way of saying "No hard feelings,"

chocaholicsanon · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 8:08 pm Post subject:

leave the garden alone until a bit of sunshine comes out, a fuschia should be cut back after flowering as with hebes too. if there is a frost it will kill it. put some fleece over it to save it.
put the secateurs down.

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suki1964 · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:53 pm Post subject:

Hilary you sound as bad as my oh when he has a pair of secateurs in his hand - I hide them come the end of October not to be found again till spring :)

Guest1 · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject:

Hilary, covering the 'crown' of the fuschia with some shavings or peat etc will just give it a bit of insurance from hard frost. As has been said, you dont want to be doing any cutting till Feb. I would suggest - ESPECIALLY hebes, that are very susceptible to cold. Id chop that in spring, but you may not see flowers again till next year.

McBabe · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:06 pm Post subject:

MY GOD a sensible answer from 'The guest' :rocker:
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Pam7 · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:42 am Post subject:

Shavings from where??? ....and Pete who?????

Guest1 · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:34 am Post subject:

Shavings from the 'ladyshave' will do - if there are enough of them......and any old Pete you can lay down!

charlie · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:02 am Post subject:

Apart from a tidy up I never touch my garden in the winter.
Everything starts in March as long as there are no bad frosts. Then I work on it almost every day untill November. I give the lawn it's last cut . Do the last of the cutting back and a good tidy.
I enjoy gardening but can't get motivated in the winter.

Pam7 · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:43 am Post subject:

I'm afraid my motto is 'If in doubt...pull it out'.....so, luckily

!..I'm barred from gardening ...apart from cutting the grass!!!

hbrac · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:40 am Post subject:

guest...we're looking for a new gardener..not any where near Liverpool are you?

_________________

Impotence..Nature's way of saying "No hard feelings,"

Guest1 · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:00 am Post subject:

Lol..too far to come home for my dinner! Actual 'gardening' is not a big part of my job nowadays, it became too 'tieing'. At one time we had about 10 residential homes on the go, plus a load of domestic stuff from estate agent lettings. But it got so that i couldnt even have a holiday! So i moved right across into general landscaping, which just involves a bit of clearing and planting-up now. (and it brings in a lot more money!)

hbrac · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:05 am Post subject:

I know what you mean. We have a big garden front and back, being on a corner and our gardener who we brought with us from the old house has been with us years. But he's been coming less and less. He has 2 vans on the go and I think he can make more money doing lots of small gardens. Then things get stolen off the van, it breaks down, the boys go off. I've been doing the grass with our old Qualcast and it takes me about 2 hours whereas he can run the petrol mower over in about 20 mins. I did get some other quotes but they were ludicrous. We've been spoilt!

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Impotence..Nature's way of saying "No hard feelings,"