Thread: old hawthorn ??
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Old 10-10-2009, 04:46 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
'Mike'[_4_] 'Mike'[_4_] is offline
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Default old hawthorn ??


"Ragnar" wrote in message
...

"NogbadtheCool" wrote in message
...
Hi all
Part of my fence around the garden is a row of ancient hawthorn, very
tall now and lovely with berries, but at the base they're old and
gappy. Anyone can stroll through.
Does anyone know if I chop them back to about head height will they re-
grow from the ground and make a nice impenetrable tangle, or will they
grow from head height again?
If the latter, any suggestions about filling in the gaps?
Many thanks
Jon


You have a golden opportunity to create a laid hedge. Don't prune it to
head height but cut half-way through the stem near ground level and heel
the whole trunk over. Look for examples on Google and Google Images. The
result will be a close-stemmed hedge that will keep people and larger
animals out while letting hedgehogs through and providing a great habitat
for birds etc. Mind you it's hard work and quite skilled.
R.


WOW!! yes quite agree, but not a thing to tackle yourself if never done
before, BUT, if your run is long enough, i.e. 3/400 metres, why not offer it
as a competition hedge?

Get it done free then ;-)

(You will then see the difference between the winners ;-) and those at the
lower end of the 'skill' table ;-( )



--
Mike

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