The hedge is finally done. What started out as "just cutting the top off a hedge" became a multi day project. While I had been whacking at it for years on our side of the fence, it had grown to an amazing tunnel completely covering the neighbor's drive from car top height (without rain or snow weight) to 40'. In places the hedge base itself is 10' from the drive. Now that light can reach the lower areas of the hedge, it should fill in. On November 5th, Guy Fawlks Day, I should have a celebratory bonfire to rival those of England. The hedge brush pile is a compact circle.