to lay or stake

[Dorset Hedgelayer]

Never mind finishing how about the starting, do you clear out whole hedge 1st ?

I do it in sections say 20-30-40 feet, all depending on hedge, as at the end of each day I like to have a completed section/length finished

[TGB]

Stake first and weave as going along. But if mostly Blackthorn, I can see that staking afterwards would be easier, quicker and probably safer.

[hedgesparrow]

maybe its me how i like to do it lay a few stems down then put in stakes and weave the stems around stakes. just looks nice then when finished hedge just check for straightness. move any that may be out bang them in so firm and then bind top of hedge with binders, can see laying the lot and then staking. but have a help mate so when i get so far she puts the stakes in for me.

[phirow]

Rule of thumb

South of England: One stake to begin then after laying 10-25 metres stake then bind.

Midland Style: stake with the work to keep the build. Bind end of day.

NHLS - Home page Visit site and come to Waddeson October 26th 2013

and see 103 cutters and then you will see how the professionals do it:thumbup1:

[hedgesparrow]

then doing both south of england and midland thats because have learned with midland and south of england cutters.

[csservices]

I've always staked after because I lay alot of big over grown hedges and you can guarantee if you stake as you go the stake will end up right in the way of where you need to lay one down

[hedgesparrow]

with the big stuff yes wait untill a lot is down then stake as you say gets in way of other big stuff coming down.

[Gups 1828]

It's the evening ritual to sit in front the wood burner of an evening with a bottle of ale and a pair of tweezers pulling out thorns !!!

[Dorset Hedgelayer]

!!!!!!! TWEEZERS use ya billhook ta dig em out:001_tongue:

[hedgesparrow]

good pair of welding gaunlets 99% do not get in and those that do just prick so hardly ever have to get thorns out of hands.

so invest in a good pair of welding gauntlets £3 from tool station. had mine ages now nice and soft so can work in them but still tought i been grabbing thorn most of this week with no problems odd one gets past if you go on to point of thorn but glove stops it going in hand and breaking off