When to Trim Laurel, Leylandii, Privet and Beech Hedges
Most hedge problems we are called out to come down to timing. Either a hedge has been left too long and got away from its owner, or it has been cut at the wrong time of year and gone patchy or brown. Here is a quick guide to the hedges we cut most often.
Leylandii
Leylandii grows fast, so it usually needs cutting two or three times a year between April and the end of August. The golden rule is never cut back into the brown wood. Unlike most hedges, Leylandii will not regrow from old wood, so if you cut too hard you will be left with bare brown patches that never fill in.
If a Leylandii hedge has already got too tall, it can usually be reduced in height, but the sides can only be cut back so far. Sometimes the honest answer is that it is better to remove it and start again.
Laurel
Cherry laurel and Portuguese laurel are tough and forgiving. A trim in late spring or summer keeps them neat. Laurel has big leaves, and cutting with a hedge trimmer can slice them in half, which then go brown at the edges. It is not a problem for the plant, but for a really tidy finish on a smaller hedge, some people prefer secateurs.
Unlike Leylandii, laurel will regrow from old wood, so a hedge that has got out of hand can be cut back hard. We would do that in late winter or early spring, before birds start nesting.
Privet
Privet is quick growing and makes a dense, tidy hedge if it is cut regularly. Two or three trims between May and the end of summer is normal. Overgrown privet can be cut back hard and will recover, though it may look bare for a season.
Beech and hornbeam
Beech and hornbeam hedges are best cut once a year in late summer, usually August. If they are cut at that time, they tend to hold on to their dead brown leaves through winter, which gives you privacy all year. For a big reduction, wait until winter when they are dormant.
Hawthorn and mixed native hedges
These are brilliant for wildlife, so we usually recommend cutting them after nesting season, in autumn or winter. Leaving a cut every other year also gives the birds berries to feed on.
Box
Box is best trimmed once in early summer, usually around late May or June, ideally on a dull day so the cut leaves do not scorch. Box blight and box tree caterpillar have hit a lot of local hedges in recent years, so keep an eye out for brown patches and webbing.
Questions we get asked
What about nesting birds?
Before any cut in spring or summer we check the hedge for active nests and leave those sections alone. We wrote more about this in our post on bird nesting season and hedge cutting.
Do you take the cuttings away?
Yes, every time. All green waste is cleared and taken away, and we leave the area swept and tidy.
Can you cut our hedge on a regular schedule?
Yes. Many of our customers have us back at the same times each year so they never have to think about it. Have a look at our hedge cutting page or ask us when you call.
Book your hedge cut
M Bissell Trees and Hedges cuts domestic and commercial hedges across Stafford, Cannock, Penkridge, Brocton, Hixon and the surrounding villages. Call Matt on 07968 421 434 or 01785 82 44 10, or get a free quote here.