How to cut a hedge

July 13, 2012, 2:41 pm Yahoo!7

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Living garden art isn’t limited to trimming plants into shapes. If you have a hedge at home, cut a word or design into it that you like. This simple form of topiary works best on conifers, but will also look fabulous on certain varieties of lilly pillies and junipers. As the foliage grows, your artwork will become more prominent.

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Gather your supplies

Hand shears

Cordless shears

hedge trimmer

Stringlines

Broom (optional)

Stones or twigs (optional)

Here's How

Step 1: Trim protruding growth so you start with a flat, even surface.
Step 2: Tie stringline onto foliage to create a top and bottom guideline for your letters. Place stones or twigs on ground to mark spacing for each letter.
Step 3: Clip 50mm into foliage to create first letter, ensuring shears are flat against hedge. Use broom handle as a straightedge, if necessary. Continue for remainder of word, stepping back to check your work as you go. Use hand shears to tidy up your design.
Step 4: Prune in a fortnight when there is more growth – the word will stand out more with each prune.