Hi Jane – hope I'm not speaking out of turn Jane but.... I saw your question: “how long to clip a box etc...” if you ask a question in the “Tell us what your doing” box, it gets onto the front page and then it's slowly pushed down as more folk post their stuff above... until it drops off the bottom..... you really need to ask your question by either starting a new discussion ( like your “LJN” one) or - like I do sometimes, not thinking it's quite important enough – tag it on the end of another related discussion (or on the 'today' thread) --- it's a good plan to maybe try the 'search box' first to see if it's already been talked about – I just typed in: box hedging.... and came up with this.... oh and don't be put off by the “big boys” talk – I'll bet they're really all just big softies – Pete.

Jane – I'm guessing you haven't got an awful lot of it to do? - I've long wanted to have a go with a Bosch cordless LI Isio – with a 4” blade – good reviews on Amazon --- or more professional have a look at the Niwaki hand shears. But I'm quite happy to do box with a standard petrol trimmer – I clip “Bertie” once a year in June for a couple who can't see very well now but they shaped him from a chick. (Rowly reckons he looks like Basil Brush on a big mac:)