Shrubs, Hedges, and Hardy Climbers 89 



TIME FOR PRUNING HEDGES 



If it is desired to check the growth, as when the hedge 

 has reached the desired height, the pruning should be done 

 in June or July; but if more growth is desired, i.e., while 

 the hedge is in the formative stage and to produce a lateral 

 growth, the spring, just before growth begins, is the best 

 time for pruning. 



IMPLEMENTS FOR PRUNING 



For the preliminary pruning or cutting out of branches from 

 the inside the long-handled shears, the common hand prun- 

 ing-shears and a large pruning-knife are all that are needed, 

 but for giving permanent finished outline the long-bladed 

 hedge-shears are indispensable. To obtain a true outline, 

 strong twine stretched very taut and held in place by stakes 

 is the simplest and most satisfactory method. If the sur- 

 face of the ground on which the hedge is grown is curved, 

 the top line of the hedge should generally take the same 

 curve, thus making it the same height throughout its length. 



A MIXED HEDGE 



Hedges of flowering shrubs, where the flowers are the 

 most desirable feature, should be pruned as directed for 

 other flowering shrubs, but the close solid hedge cannot be 

 obtained by this method of pruning. 



ADAPTABILITY OF SOIL AND LOCALITY 



As with trees and shrubs under all other conditions, the 

 different kinds used for hedges will only succeed under 

 proper conditions of soil and exposure. Thus the hemlock 

 will succeed only when planted in a moist, cool soil, in a 

 cool yet somewhat sheltered location. The arbor-vitass and 



