Latest news with #hedges
Irish Times
13-07-2025
- General
- Irish Times
My beech hedge looks brown and tatty. Is it past the point of rescue?
I planted a beech hedge in March using young bare-root plants. I made sure to water it during the very warm dry weather in late spring, but even so, some of the leaves turned brown and many of the plants now look tatty. Do they need to be replaced? Ciarán O'Hara, Wexford The unseasonably dry, hot weather in Ireland in April and May caught a lot of gardeners out. It also put recently planted hedges and young trees under stress just as they were coming into leaf and the pressure on their immature root systems was at its highest. This was especially true of bare-root specimens. Although these are much more affordable and environmentally friendly than container-grown specimens, unfortunately their one downside is their greater vulnerability to drought for at least a year after being planted. You mention being careful to water the plants, but even so, it's all too easy to underestimate how much water a young bare-root hedge will need (at least 10-15 litres per plant every couple of days), especially when exposed to drying winds and sustained high temperatures. Young bare-root plants can also easily suffer stress even before they go in the ground. This can happen, for example, if their vulnerable root systems aren't protected from drying out by damping them down with water and keeping them wrapped and in a cool, shady spot until you're ready to plant them. READ MORE This aside, it's not unusual to have some browning of leaves on young hedges where bare-root plants have been used, so I wouldn't assume they need replacing. Start by gently scratching a few of the stems to see if they're still green beneath the outer layer, a very good sign that the plant tissue is still alive and viable. Also make sure to keep watering your hedge regularly throughout the summer and early autumn months, ideally in the evening, especially whenever drought or higher-than-normal temperatures are forecast. As a deciduous species, beech trees naturally drop their leaves in late autumn, but beech hedging is much more likely to retain its dead leaves until the following spring when it bursts back into leaf again. It's only then that you'll be able to properly gauge the extent of any possible long-term damage. But the chances are good that your plants will have recovered and established stronger root systems capable of properly sustaining healthy growth. My advice is to wait and see. Finally, bear in mind that young hedges should also be kept weed-free until properly established. Mulching around the base of the plants in early spring also helps to lock in soil moisture and prevent the soil from getting too warm, as well as preventing fresh weed growth.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Why annual hedge cutting in Jersey is a balancing act
Since 1914, people in Jersey have picked up sickles and strimmers to cut the hedges around their houses. "Branchage" is a legal requirement designed to keep roads as safe as possible, but environmentalists said they were increasingly worried the practice was destroying too much and have called for Stephen Le Quesne said branchage had been completed to varying levels of success, damaging hedges and injuring wildlife, for of St Saviour Kevin Lewis said it was important to maintain road access but added it was difficult to balance the community's competing needs on the issue. What is branchage? Branchage, which literally means branches, is the 111-year-old law that requires land owners or renters in Jersey to cut back any trees, shrubs or grass overhanging roads near their must be a 12ft (3.6m) clearance over main roads and by-roads, and a clearance of 8ft (2.4m) over footpaths. The aim is to make it safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to use the officials carry out two inspections, one in late June or early July and another in September, to check branchage has been it is not done properly, parishioners can be fined up to £100 or the parish may arrange for the work to be done and residents to be charged for it. Mr Le Quesne said he believed the island's natural environment has been degraded since the start of branchageHe said hedges being "scalped to the bone" caused environmental loss and risked erosion to old stone walls."You're losing your insect populations, you're losing your flowers, you're losing your biodiversity, you're not allowing flowers and grasses to go through their natural cycles," he suggested creating a network of green lanes across the island with minimal traffic are not cut until August or early said this could be a real boost for tourists visiting the island for its natural beauty and would encourage people to get out more. Lewis said branchage was important to maintain free access to the roads, particularly for bin lorries, tractors and emergency vehicles. He said he agreed with environmental concerns and it was important people did not cut back hedges too tightly, leaving at least 10cm of added he had only seen a few "minor infractions" during his July 2025 inspection and he preferred to issue warnings to residents instead of Government of Jersey advises people should help the environment by cutting with hand tools when possible, allowing pans to set seed if not overhanging, leaving tussocks of vegetation for insects and never carrying out heavy hedge work during bird breeding season between 1March and 31 July.
BBC News
08-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
People in Guernsey trimming hedges urged to protect wildlife
Islanders with roadside hedges on their properties have been urged to protect wildlife when cutting them and tenants have until 15 June to trim hedges bordering public roads under Guernsey law, so they do not block road signs, traffic lights and visibility for States said cutting a hedge "too severely and frequently" could have a detrimental effect on the vegetation and the wildlife it Countryside and Land Management Services said people should check for "nesting birds or other wildlife" and use secateurs for "minimal cutting" around nests if they find them. It said internal hedges should be left until after bird breeding season between March and July to law requires roadside verges to be cut between 1 and 15 June and then again between 15 and 30 September each year to remove overhanging people with "rare or uncommon plants" in their earth banks and hedges should avoid cutting them until September if possible, said officials. 'Living threads' Officials said: "Guernsey's beautiful landscape is defined by its distinctive roadside hedge banks which form an important part of our island's heritage. "They form living threads which run through and connect the parishes and can be a haven for both plants and animals, adding much to the island's natural living diversity."Anyone finding injured wildlife should contact the GSPCA, the organisation and Highways said people should make sure cuttings are cleared away immediately to avoid the need to clear blocked drains.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Lidl is selling cheap Japanese gardening gadget for cheaper than a fiver – helping you cut back overgrown hedges
LIDL is selling a gardening gadget that will help you tackle overgrown hedges - and it costs less than a fiver. With temperatures remaining high this week, after a sunny weekend, many of us are likely planning on spending as much time as possible in the garden. 2 However, if you're planning on having any guests over for barbecues or garden parties over the coming days, you may want to give your outside space a bit of a spruce-up. And although you may think that the tools needed to keep your garden in tip-top shape will be pricey, Lidl's Parkside Japanese Pull Saw With Angled Handle proves otherwise. The bargain buy will set you back by just £4.99, making it the perfect product for penny pinchers. The nifty gadget can help you trim back overgrown hedges, thanks to the flexible saw blade with coarse and fine teeth. The pulling motion allows you to make clean, precise cuts with minimal effort, and the saw blade can be replaced at the touch of a button, without any tools. The product also has an ergonomic handle, and a soft grip, so you can chop hedges with comfort. The product is available in stores now, as part of Lidl 's Middle Aisle products. It can only be purchased by those over 18, and according to the Lidl website, is not available in all stores. You better head down to your local Lidl to snap yours up quick though since, as with all Middle Aisle products, once they're gone, they're gone. If you're lawn is looking green and patchy this spring, Lidl also has a handy gadget to get it looking lush, for under a tenner. Trying out Lidl's new weeding tools The retailer's Parkside Rotating Sprinkler is scanning for £8.99 and comes complete with a handful of nifty add-ons. It is stocked with a total of 45 precision nozzles and a fine filter as dirt sieve Plus, it's weather- and UV-resistant, so even if you leave it outside it won't suffer any serious damage. However, shoppers will have to wait until May 15 before they can get their hands on it. Why do Aldi and Lidl have such fast checkouts IF you've ever shopped in Aldi or Lidl then you'll probably have experienced its ultra-fast checkout staff. Aldi's speedy reputation is no mistake, in fact, the supermarket claims that its tills are 40 per cent quicker than rivals. It's all part of Aldi's plan to be as efficient as possible - and this, the budget shop claims, helps keep costs low for shoppers. Efficient barcodes on packaging means staff are able to scan items as quickly as possible, with the majority of products having multiple barcodes to speed up the process. It also uses 'shelf-ready' packaging which keeps costs low when it comes to replenishing stock. Rival Aldi has also stocked up on bargains to make your garden the envy of your neighbours, such as an Electric Weed Killer for just £14.99. It works as a hot-air blower which gets three jobs done as one single gadget. On the Aldi website it states: "Grab yourself a multi-functional hot-air blower which performs as a weeder, BBQ lighter and hot air gun for removing paint and varnish to conquer all those garden tasks this year." The 2000-watt machine has no harmful chemicals as it simply spits out hot air, killing the weeds. It has a swivel handle, three temperatures, and five heating nozzles included. The cheap new tool appeared in Aldi stores on May 8, so those looking to pep up their patio can pick one up today.
