Clifftop tamarisk hedge cut back level, Capel-le-Ferne

The problem
A long tamarisk hedge bordered a lawn on the clifftop near Capel-le-Ferne, with the Channel visible just above it. Clifftop hedges take a lot of wind and it shows: this one had thickened and gone ragged, with long whippy shoots standing above the main line.
On exposed ground like this, an untidy hedge is more than cosmetic. Long loose growth catches the wind and gets pulled about, which weakens it over time.
What we did
We trimmed the whole run to one level, which keeps the profile low and stable in the wind. Taking out the long shoots first made the line easier to read. The sides were shaped so the hedge stays slightly wider at the base than the top, a shape that stands up better to a clifftop gust.
We worked within the green growth and avoided cutting into bare old wood. All clippings were bagged and cleared from the lawn.
The result
The hedge is level, compact and wind-ready for winter, and the sea view is back. A tidy cut each year keeps it from running away again.
Looking after it
On the clifftop, a hedge is a windbreak as much as a screen, so how it is cut affects how well it stands. A compact, level hedge with a slightly wider base holds up in gales far better than a tall, loose one. The same goes for the plants behind it: a good hedge shelters the lawn and borders, so everything in the garden does better. We cut with that in mind, and we are happy to advise on what height suits an exposed site. Our 5% pensioner discount has no time limit and works on trust.
Got a hedge that needs the same?
Dover Hedges covers Dover, the Dour valley and the clifftop villages. A proper job, or you do not pay, with a 5% pensioner discount that has no time limit.
Call 07763 100477 or email hello@doverhedges.co.uk for a quote.
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