If clearing a hedge is not an option, you can try to let the entire planting slowly die off. In the following article we will describe an ecologically friendly agent that reliably initiates this process.
How can I let a hedge collapse naturally?
To collapse a hedge, you can use the environmentally friendly “ringing” method. Here, an approximately 10 cm wide strip of bark is removed from the main trunk in the lower area of each plant, which interrupts the flow of sap and the hedge can slowly die off within 12 to 36 months.
Let the hedge wither away
Ringling is a process that is harmless to the environment and comes from forestry and has proven itself for centuries. This measure interrupts the sap flow of the hedge plants, so that they die over a period of 12 to 36 months.
The advantages of this procedure:
- The process is completely natural.
- This does not affect the animals living in the hedge. They notice that the bushes are withering and are looking for a new home.
- You can gradually adapt the garden design to the visual changes.
However, this process is time-consuming because you have to treat each plant individually.
ringing bushes
The best time to ring bushes is mid-summer from July to mid-August. To remove you will need the following tools:
- Wire brush,
- Tearing hook or finishing knife,
- Draw knife,
- Protective gloves.
Procedure:
- Select and mark the location on the main trunk in the lower area of the plant.
- Remove strips of bark about ten centimeters wide with the draw knife.
- Remove only the bark. The wood inside must not be damaged, as this would lead to the establishment of pests and rot.
- As soon as the bark has been removed all around, use the wire brush to brush off the growth layer (cambium) down to the wood.
Chemical destruction
To kill a hedge, home remedies such as vinegar, s alt or weed killers are sometimes recommended. We can only advise against these methods, as large quantities of these substances would have to be administered to remove bushes.
These not only damage the hedge plants, but also contaminate the surrounding soil. If you want something to thrive here again, you might even have to dig up the substrate, as the poison spreads everywhere.
Tip
It is often said that a copper nail driven into the main shoot would cause bushes and trees to collapse. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as plants have a variety of mechanisms and can heal such injuries quickly. The nail is simply enclosed and the bush continues to grow.
