# How to Wilt a Hedge
You may need to wilt a hedge in order to weaken it for removal. You may also want to conserve water by drying out your hedge and planting something else. Wilting a hedge can be easy if you live in a dry climate where you directly control the water the plant receives. If your hedge receives water from an irrigation system, just stop watering it. However, if your hedge gets water from precipitation you will have to follow these steps to wilt it.
Things You'll Need
- Rake
- Spade
Instructions
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1
Remove any mulch under your hedge,
especially any type of weed barrier or plastic sheeting. Rake away any leaves, twigs and debris that may have accumulated under the hedge. Bare ground will dry out your hedge much faster.
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2
Scrape the stem of the hedge trees with spade. Strip as much bark off of the stem as you can. Cutting open the bark of the hedge will help to dry it out much faster.
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3
Dig a one-foot-deep trench looping around your hedge. At one end of the trench dig a drainage channel to carry water out of the trench. The trench will expose roots that will help to wilt the hedge. The trench will also help to dry the soil out around the hedge and drain water away from the plants.
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1
Landscaping Shrubs
