hbrac
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Any gardeners out there?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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suki1964
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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
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hbrac
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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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newbutt1
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definitely when the frost has finished, cutting it back now is opening it up to frost damage
jayne
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hbrac
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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 
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newbutt1
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You'll probably be OK providing that there isn't a frost for the next few days
jayne
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hbrac
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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!!
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Pam7
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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!!!!
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hbrac
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Pam...he went to York but I'm not sure when he's due back.
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chocaholicsanon
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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
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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 :)
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Guest1
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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. 
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McBabe
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MY GOD a sensible answer from 'The guest' :rocker:
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Pam7
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Shavings from where??? ....and Pete who?????
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Guest1
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Shavings from the 'ladyshave' will do - if there are enough of them......and any old Pete you can lay down!
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charlie
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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. 
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Pam7
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I'm afraid my motto is 'If in doubt...pull it out'.....so, luckily !..I'm barred from gardening ...apart from cutting the grass!!!
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hbrac
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guest...we're looking for a new gardener..not any where near Liverpool are you?
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Guest1
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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!)
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hbrac
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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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Guest1
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Little old blokes with nowt better to do are few and far between now! I certainly couldnt afford someone to come and do my garden - they cost too bloody much!
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