GAPS IN HEDGES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1940, Page 15

GAPS IN HEDGES

FOOD SUPPLY SHOULD BE REPLENISHED. A common fault of old evergreen hedges is the development of bare patches, either through a few isolated branches dying or, sometimes, because of a whole bush collapsing. In the former instance, a cure can be effected by sawing out each dead member to the base and then training in a neighbouring growth. It is not difficult to make a framework of light bamboo canes lashed together across the gap. This provides a ready means of training conveniently placed shoots to cover the space during the summer months. When a whole shrub goes, the problem is not solved so easily. If it is possible to find sufficient growth on the neighbouring shrubs to fill the gap after the defaulter has been removed, well and good, but in many cases the only course is to introduce a new shrub altogether. The problem then is to get the youngster to grow in spite of the competition of the well established plants. It is useless to replace dead plants in this way without first thoroughly digging and enriching the soil. Never., mind if some of the roots of the neighbouring plants are dug up in the process; they will have plenty of others to provide them with nourishment. Perhaps the loss of a hedge plant was due to its not being properly nourished. Inexperienced gardeners are inclined to neglect the manuring of hedges altogether. They seem to forget they are dealing with living plants. However well the soil may have been prepared before planting, there must come a time when this will be exhausted. The wise gardener feeds judiciously, year by year. The best means of replenishing the food supply is to prepare a mixture of well rotted manure and good soil in equal parts and spread this over the surface of the ground on both sides of the hedge. Unfortunately well decayed manure is not so easily, obtainable. so substitutes must be employed. Usually two parts of blood and bone to six parts of good soil will be sufficient for a good dressing and November is a good month for its application.