Don reworked an azalea hedge that had grown so tall it was blocking the light and obscuring the view from the house. It is very difficult to keep a hedge at exactly the same height. Even when hedges are trimmed regularly, they gradually grow taller and eventually need renovation pruning.
How it was done
Don used a pruning saw, bypass loppers and secateurs to prune the hedge.
The pruning was done in late spring, after the main flush of flowers had finished. This gives the hedge plenty of time to grow back and look good before it flowers next season.
Hedges are green, living fences, and when pruning it is important to remember to keep them straight and square! It helps enormously if you can take a line of sight from some existing geometric feature in the garden, such as a wall or path. Failing this, use string lines to keep your pruning straight and level. Don took his line of sight from the horizontal brick ledge between the piers of the verandah.
During pruning, stand back every now and again and eyeball the hedge from a distance to see how it’s shaping up.
Be conservative and don’t take off too much at once. It is much easier to remove more than to stick a piece back on again!
After pruning Don applied a mixture of 50% Nitrosol and 50% Seasol using a hose end applicator. This mixture stimulates both leafy growth and root growth.
After renovation pruning keep the hedge well watered, especially during dry spells over summer.
When the hedge reshoots, trim lightly over the top with shears (see diagram 1). This will encourage further dense new growth (see diagram 2).
Further information
Nitrosol and Seasol are readily available at hardware stores and nurseries. 1 litre of Seasol or Nitrosol concentrate costs about $16 to $20 and makes up to 350 litres.
For full details on how to prune all the plants in your garden, see the ‘Burke’s Backyard Guide to Pruning’ (available by sending a cheque for $3.85 to ACP Direct, Burke’s Backyard Reply Paid 3508, Sydney, NSW, 2001, or phone 13 61 16).