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Janet · 25-07-2013, 09:52 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

In article ,
lid says...

On Wed, 24 Jul 2013 14:44:16 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Wed, 24 Jul 2013 13:21:10 +0200, Martin wrote:

It's called a hedge slasher, which is not the same as billhook.

A hedge slasher has a long, 4 feet or so, handle doesn't it? Used for
slashing back the growth ona hedge leaving the heavier longer growths
to be laid.

The laying is done with a bill hook, partially cutting through the
uprights created above and bending them over, weaving between stakes
driven into the ground along the hedge. Stakes made from the
thinings.

When I was a kid in N Yorks, hedge laying was done using just a
slasher.

You snipped the bit where she called it a splasher? Why?

Years ago I inherited one (the long handled blade) from an uncle who
had inherited it from his Irish grandfather; it must be at least a
hundred years old. He called it a plasher. I also have a bill hook
(bought new) which I used far more than the plasher when working on
hedges in our previous garden. But I keep the plasher anyway for
sentimental reasons.

Janet