Pandion

The old boy who taught me used to lay hedges year round when he started and was a bit bemused by all the modern sensibilities re seasons etc. Apparently the hedges grew well regardless of the time of year when they were cut. Second hand info but interesting!?

Roberts DAB solar powered is great. Use it on site all of the time. Loud enough for outside work, charge it up at night and will run for two days without solar. In Summer, find the right spot and will run for free. Not waterproof though so keep it a waterproof bag when it's a bit damp. Would love a waterproof version. Also have snapped the aerial a few times, dropping logs on etc. oops.

Awesome - I want one!

Surrounded by cats at our place, at least 8 doing "what comes naturally" (my arse, shouldn't be there in the first place). Very, very close to getting a dog, mainly to get rid of the cats. Any suggestions as to what kind of dogs are good with kids but like eating cats? (Already prepared my "but it's just doing what comes naturally defence"). God I hate cats (domestic, roaming all over the damn place cats).

Thanks all, makes sense. Will suggest a compromise solution and see what he says. Many thanks.

Hi all, hope someone can advise. I am mostly a hedge layer but currently am building a patio for a client. The spec is to pave right up to a 40 year old silver birch tree which would require about 30% of the surface roots to be removed (some up to 4" diameter)' to a depth of 150mm. Are there likely to be any tree health / stability issue that I should be concerned about? Many thanks.

No Mr Rover, they wouldn't, but I would! Many thanks!

Thanks Fagus, if they go for it, will recommend irrigation or they can wait until Autumn. Thanks.

Thanks Luke, I'd been told that if you nick the laid stem with the billhook buds can be encouraged. Never been able to work out if it works or not in practice.

Thanks all. Good shout Rover, hadn't considered that. Though might not ( or might?) get any growth from the base? Gavint and arbwork - from our quick phone conversation, she had seen a laid hedge up the road, liked it and wants one! Here to help! One step up from one customer who saw me hedgelaying and wanted one but couldn't understand that she needed trees first. Only had a barbed wire fence. Tricky. ! Meeting soon to have a look and chat. Thanks.

Hi all, Had a request today to install an instant laid hedge, ie, don't muck about planting whips and waiting 10 years, they want it and they want it now! I suggested planting large plants (4" diameter, maybe 6 - 8 ' tall) staking and irrigating and waiting until next season to lay. Would be expensive but that didn't seem to be an issue. Then I wondered if I could plant and lay immediately, in the green so to speak, avoiding having to stake etc. As I'd just planted them, I could be pretty sure there would be no nesting birds! Could the plants deal with the shock of early summer planting ( I'm busy until late May / June) and immediate laying? I'd like to wait until they are dormant and have had a decent season to establish but wondered whether it's possible in terms of plant physiology. Many thanks.

Pasties. Yes, plural.

Interesting chat this. I certainly pack in "rural or agricultural" hedgelaying at the end of March as there is not much leaf about. This year I have two back garden hedges that I am considering doing in April. Not at all rural, and I figure gardeners et al crack on throughout the year trimming, felling, clearing hedges etc so should I do a bit (40 m) of careful and responsible laying of knackered old privet etc out of season? I could say that tree surgeons and the like carry on seemingly regardless year round, but I wouldn't, at least not on this site! Any further thoughts? (From memory, there is something in the hedge regs about location or setting?). Cheers.

Thanks all for your suggestions, plenty to ponder...........

Hi all, The cam belt on my Hyundai Santa fei has just gone pop and I have an estimate of £1000 to £2000 to fix it. If it's towards the top end of this I may well replace although it's been great for 6 years. 150000 on the clock. The car has been great for lumping around hedgelaying materials, sleepers etc as well as the kids. Any suggestions for family friendly off road able 4x4 would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.