Hedgelaying; New season.

[Graham]

So, to ask the most basic of questions, it really is a matter of just cut it at the bottom, bend it over, stake it (down) and hope it lives?

 

Yes...apart from the hope bit:001_smile:

 

The cut at the bottom varies depending on species, age, nature of growth etc. The aim is to get a nice tapering cut all the way to the base where it hinges over. Leave it too thick or too steep an angle and it will try and split back up the stem (backheeling). It will also produce too much growth from the pleacher(laid stem) and not enough from the stool. The growth from the stool is what someone will lay 20 years later.

 

Try it with hazel as it pleaches easily before attempting gnarly old thorn.

 

Generally, depending on the style laid, the stake line runs slightly to the side of the pleaches. To bring your laid stems into line there may be a bit of cutting required (nicking, notching). A couple of pics which may give you an idea.

 

 

[Woodworks]

Lovely work Graham. On your first post it looks like there are some cuts above the base on a few stems. Have you made some dips to straighten them?

[Graham]

Lovely work Graham. On your first post it looks like there are some cuts above the base on a few stems. Have you made some dips to straighten them?

 

Thank you. Yes the cuts will be either to straighten and bring into line from a bent or double stem or to bring a stem from the back of the hedge to the front.

 

This makes sure that all the stems are staked and part of the hedge build.

[Woodworks]

Thank you. Yes the cuts will be either to straighten and bring into line from a bent or double stem or to bring a stem from the back of the hedge to the front.

 

This makes sure that all the stems are staked and part of the hedge build.

 

OK that makes sense. I only do Devon style on our farm but always looking to do it better. I often have awkward stems that change angle in an awkward place along their length. From what I can make out you have cut a taper from both direction to straighten the stem or have I got that wrong?

[Graham]

OK that makes sense. I only do Devon style on our farm but always looking to do it better. I often have awkward stems that change angle in an awkward place along their length. From what I can make out you have cut a taper from both direction to straighten the stem or have I got that wrong?

 

Depending which way it needs to be straightened. If it needs pulling to the face of the hedge then just a nick on the inside with the saw and no tapers. If it's where it can be seen then it's cut just as you would a pleacher to give a smooth appearance which looks far better than a nick with the saw or hook and then bending.

[AHPP]

Thank you very much.