The way to get a deciduous hedge for free is to ask a…
““The way to get a deciduous hedge for free is to ask a neighbor to let you take divisions from his shrubs. You can take ten or twenty sucker-like shoots with their roots attached before he will notice and start to feel like a sucker himself. Thank him profusely and suggest that you'd love to have him and the wife over to dinner sometime, but don't give a specific date. Perhaps in the winter, you might suggest, when there's not so much work to do in the yard. ...in about three to five years the little suckers will grow into an informal hedge whose height will depend on the type of shrub you have selected. I know three to five years is a long time when you're middle-aged and older. But what do you want? You've just glommed several hundred dollars' worth of shrubs for free, for heaven's sake. In three to five years your neighbor will have forgotten about that dinner, also.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A clever, low‑cost method to acquire a hedge by borrowing plant cuttings from a neighbor, then deferring gratitude indefinitely.
In simple terms: Get a hedge for free by taking neighbor’s shrub cuttings and delaying a promised dinner.
Key Takeaway
Use neighbor’s resources, then wait years for payoff.
Themes
resourcefulness
manipulation
long‑term planning
Mood
cunning
pragmatic
Type
advice
anecdotal
When to use this quote
- home gardening
- budget landscaping
- neighborly relations
- DIY projects
Key Concepts
social engineering
horticulture
delayed reciprocity
Questions to Reflect On
- How would you feel if you were the neighbor?
- Is it worth the deception for material gain?
A Different Perspective
Ethical concerns about exploiting trust and vague promises.