On 20/1/06 12:58, in article
, "dai16"
wrote:

I have an Escallonia hedge in my garden, about 12 feet long and 6 feet
high. It grows strongly, and stays green throughout the winter. I live
in South West wales, with a mild maritime climate. I just cannot decide
when it is the best time to trim the hedge as I want to use it as a
fairly formal "divider" in the garden. I cut it back in November, but
this has exponsed a lost of bare branches now, these will re-grow, and
I can already see the new green buds forming. If I trim it earlier I
seem to cut off the stems that produce the scented pink flowers in late
summer. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Take it back to where you want it after it finishes flowering, taking out
older or weak flowering stems. Personally, I like it best as a fairly
informal hedge because I think the way it grows and flowers suits that best
but I've certainly seen it grown close-clipped on the edge of a formal lawn.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)