One of the ironies of my life is that while I hate hedge trimming, I live with a front yard that is bounded on three sides by healthy privet hedges.

It isn't all my fault; a previous owner installed the privet.  However, I knew what I was getting into when we bought the house.

Why didn't I just tear out the privet and install a fence?  The thought has crossed my mind many times, but I hate tearing out perfectly healthy plants.  To do so on such a large scale might invoke the wrath of the gods of horticulture.  Also, the job would involve a lot of hard labor, which I would have to undertake.  Even if I got through the hard labor, I would have to hire someone to put up the new fence.  That would be expensive, and I have better uses for my money.

So I am stuck with perpetual privet.  Fortunately I have made my peace with the hedge by limiting the trimming to twenty minute increments.  I can tame a ten linear foot swath of hedge in that time.  If I do twenty minutes a day on the hedge over a two week period, the hedge stays well-disciplined and I feel virtuous.  It's a win-win.