On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:31:51 +0100, Spider
wrote:

"Steven Wayne" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I don't know much about hedges so could someone please tell me what this
hedge is.

http://www.baldman.eclipse.co.uk/hedge/page.html

And if there's any hope for it?

It has holes in it and patches where the leaves are all brown.

Thanks,
Steven


Hi Steven,

I go along with Emrys's identification, too. If that's a typical picture of
your hedge, ie clothed right down to the ground, then I don't think you've
got anything to worry about. It is perfectly normal for an evergreen,
coniferous hedge to be bare in the middle; no reasonable amount of light can
penetrate there, so foliage dies and can never regenerate.

Thanks for the ident everyone, but it's not my hedge.

However, regardless of what the picture shows, you've said there are some
browned areas. It's a pity your pictures didn't show these. (Yes, I know,
you wanted to send your best pictures! :~) ). Are the brown areas near the
base? Think cat, dog, fox pee and see if that's likely. Be brave: is there
a smell? There are other causes: root troubles caused by drought or excess
wet; spray drift from a herbicide (again, is there a smell?); insect damage:
aphids or catapillars; fungal problems, such as phytophthera (see previous
thread). Another possibility is over-enthusiastic trimming, but your hedge
looks evenly trimmed, so I doubt it's that.

I've added a picture of the brown bits:
http://www.baldman.eclipse.co.uk/hed..._bits-1-0.html

It's hard to suggest a solution without knowing the actual problem, but try
feeding it. Indeed, have you ever fed it? They're very hungry plants.
Perhaps you could try investigating further and come back to this ng if you
find anything. In the meantime, if it were my hedge, I would try a
bonemeal feed (scatter below hedge and carefully rake in, then water in).
Next, I'd try an ericaceous feed. An unusual and controversial step, but
one which I find helps with fungal problems. Or you could ask at the GC for
a proprietory Phytopthera treatment. I would keep an insecticidal spray as
a last resort, as many small birds (esp. goldcrest) love nesting in
conifers. As you can see, I'm doing (intelligent) guessing here!, but I
(and others, I'm sure) will have another try if you can give more
information.

HTH, Spider.

It does H a lot, thanks.

I'll ask the owners if they've ever fed it.


Steven