A sheared hedge ... 'signifies vision, persistence, and patience qualities we crave in today's world. Yet many people do make the commitment. They create hedges, care for them eagerly, and gain much satisfaction from the process. Why Perhaps it's because shaping a hedge is the closest most of us will ever come to doing sculpture or erecting a monument, but I think the real reward is more mundane. Shearing is very empowering it gives you an exhilarating sense of control and achievement. You can stand back afterward and say, look what I've done.