Happy hedging

Keep yours tiptop

REPAIR YOUR HEDGE Is your hedge looking patchy? Resist the urge to fill gaps with plants of the same size. Plant a young plant or seedling – it will adapt more readily to the soil conditions and grow much quicker. A smaller root ball also means less root disturbance for the neighbouring hedge plants.

Gather your supplies Organic garden soil mix Young hedge plant (buxus used here) Soluble fertiliser

You’ll also need Hedge shears; shovel; garden fork; watering can

Here’s how STEP 1 In gap, prune a clearing wide enough for new plant to sit comfortably without its leaves being crowded by existing hedge plants. Cut foliage of surrounding plants into a V shape to allow light to filter through. STEP 2 If you need to remove a dead plant, dig around and below its root system and carefully remove. Tips

As far as possible, try not to disturb the soil around the existing plants

Be careful not to cut through roots of remaining plants.

STEP 3 Pour soil into hole. Use garden fork to mix it through existing soil to enrich earth. Make a hole about the height and width of new plant’s root ball. Make sure hole is centred between existing plants and deep enough so the trunk will line up with other trunks.

STEP 4 Remove new plant from plastic pot by squeezing bottom of pot until root ball comes loose. Ensure a good amount of soil is still attached to roots.

STEP 5 Sit root ball in hole, centred and with trunk in line with trunks of existing plants. Fill hole with soil and pat down soil around base.

STEP 6 Pour fertiliser into watering can and dilute with water following product instructions. Water new plant well. Note

Applying fertiliser helps establish roots of new plant and repair roots of surrounding plants.