Holes on the hedge

[spader]

We have privet hedge in the front and back garden. Both hedges have holes at the bottom near the ground and some in the middle as well. What would be best way to get the holes filled again? I was sweeping the fallen leaves on the ground into the bottom holes of the hedges hoping it will fertilise the ground at the same time they will be filled with the new growth, but not quite sure if there would be better way to do it.

 

[Odds]

'ow big is yer 'oles, if it's not a personal question?

 

[spader]

'ow big is yer 'oles, if it's not a personal question?

It is the hedge holes by the way. About a foot height and 4-5 ft length at the bottom of the hedge at the corner where it runs parallel with the shed and the sunlight is blocked. I swept the leaves into it trying to fill, but not quite enough to totally block, so planning to trim the holly tree twigs with the jagged leaves and add more of them into the space trying to stop the neighbors cats coming through, which is quite a nuisance.

 

[Odds]

If the hedge has no more room to expand into the gaps, perhaps a temporary fence can be erected to prevent cats finding their way through - a plastic expanding fence would do, or a folding trellis, perhaps. Leaves won't add many nutrients into the earth and are easily brushed aside and sodden by rain.

 

[spader]

If the hedge has no more room to expand into the gaps, perhaps a temporary fence can be erected to prevent cats finding their way through - a plastic expanding fence would do, or a folding trellis, perhaps. Leaves won't add many nutrients into the earth and are easily brushed aside and sodden by rain.

Good idea & advice. Thank you.

 

[ericmark]

My cats can get through some very small gaps, and if you get a badger, there is no stopping them, they will push there way through anything, wild boar I am told are the worst, I really felt sorry for the guy who got them in his garden, lucky not seen any around here.

But I like watching the hedgehog waddle though the garden, and really don't want to stop it.

Goats and sheep are a problem, the height sheep can jump surprised me, watching them walking along the top of garden walls, and the goats of Llandudno have become a real problem since Colvid, they just would wander around the Great Orm, but with Colvid they came into the empty streets of the town, and it seems will eat anything, and are protected.

So what you do depends on why you want to block the holes, think it unlikely you will stop squirrels, there is a film over the hedge which shows what happens when you try to stop wild life, thank god I don't live in the USA.

 

[spader]

Our hedges are about 6ft+ tall and very wide, so cats cannot jump over it. But they get through via the holes at the bottom. Since I put down the holly tree branches and leaves, and pushed them into the holes, it seems to be definitely making effective blocking the cats.

But then the hedge looks not so good with the holes, and was wondering if there was a way to make them grow and seal the gap. But failing that, we will look for some sort of wire mesh and make it into fence along the gaps.

 

[Odds]

How far apart did you plant the saplings of your hedge when it was laid out?

 

[ericmark]

My hedge was never laid, so it will never stop animals, and now a bit late to try. Not sure if I have the skill anyway, I would need to employ someone. Likely it would mean ripping it all out, and starting from scratch.