Hedge

Today is the dreaded, annual hedge-cutting day. And not just "Hedge Day," but also "Palm Tree Day" and "Leland Cypress Day."

I'm victim of my own green thumb, although I can't take credit for the laurel that was thriving here 40 years ago.  But the palm tree towering over the house, and the Leyland Cypress towering over the back yard-- my doings.  And fairly recent doings, at that.

An arborist once told me that "palm trees grow very slowly in Seattle." Not in this yard.  Those lower fronds are 20 feet up, way too high for me to trim with a ladder anymore.  

August 2015

September 2018

And how about this success story?  Of course I knew Leyland Cypress trees "grew fast" that's why I planted them, to block the view of new apartments and houses. But three years later, it's already time to cut off the tops and start shaping them into (you guessed it!) another high maintenance hedge.  

On the bright side, after so many hedge-cutting fiascos I finally found a company I like.  Blooma Tree Service is expensive but professional, and you might remember last year they brought out a giant bucket truck and chain sawed four feet off the top of the hedge.  This year is should be more of a maintenance trim, I hope. 

However, when their arborist gave the bid, he took one look at the Leyand Cypress, turned to me with a grim look on his face and asked, "Have you ever SEEN these trees once they get out of CONTROL?"

Tomorrow, the after pictures.