Quick manicure for your hedges
SUMMER might be slowly coming to an end — but there’s plenty you can do in the garden to keep it looking great for those sunny autumn days that surely lie ahead.
Stay on top of weeding to deter new weeds from seeding themselves, so you have fewer to deal with next year. Likewise, it’s important to be consistent with your deadheading — doing so will help keep your perennial beds and annual pots looking their best. Along with pruning and checking over patio furniture that’s been out all summer, there’s also the matter of manicuring any overgrown hedges and bushes. This is a good time to trim them back as birds should have finished nesting by now. While it might seem like a daunting task, there are, in fact, only two tools you really need to trim foliage — hand shears and a hedge trimmer.
If you’re snipping away at small, untidy shrubs or have a few thick branches you can’t stand the sight of, then you’ll need shears. If, on the other hand, you’re cutting long and tall hedges, you could benefit from a wide-sweeping hedge trimmer for an even cut.
Not sure what to look for in a quality hedge trimmer? Keep an eye out for ergonomic features, such as extendable arms and adjustable cutting heads. The Gtech HT50 Hedge Trimmer, for instance, has a long-reach telescopic arm (cutting up to 10ft tall) and comes with a cutting head that rotates at 135° — ideal for reaching awkward angles. Best of all, as it is a cordless hedge trimmer, you won’t run the risk of tripping over leads or feeding cords through windows.
TOP TIP: Whether you’re using shears, hedge trimmers or both, you should keep your tools sharp and welllubricated. Leave them untended for lengthy periods and you could end up with a dull blade and frayed finish.