Trim your shared hedge smartly to avoid the 'lazy' label from your neighbor—size it right!
Grab a ladder, position it by the boundary hedge, and climb to the third rung with shears ready. Whistle away to catch your neighbor's eye. Time this 'conversation starter' 10 minutes before aperitif hour. You'll dodge the chore—postponed reliably after siesta.
For avid gardeners who demand a smooth hedge top, not ocean waves, now's the season to prune evergreens like thuyas, cypresses, cherry laurels (almond laurel in the south), and privet.
Warm up those joints first: Rotate wrists 10 times each way, bend elbows 15 times, circle shoulders with arm swings, loosen hips with rotations, and sway side-to-side with feet apart.
Post-warm-up, opt for scaffolding over a ladder—safer, more stable, no awkward twists.
Always sharpen your trimmer and disinfect with alcohol (skip the aperitif kind!).
For power hedge trimmers, consider a cane model: blade on a long handle, harness-supported to prevent tendonitis, tilting for precise, time-saving cuts.
Don gloves, ear protection, and a helmet if laddering up.
Taking care of your garden means safeguarding the gardener too.
Country hedge
