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Most hedges will only need to be cut once or twice a year. Although, there are certain varieties that need a little more maintenance.
However, because hedges are made from all different types of trees and shrubs, the best time of year to trim them will vary.
We run through the optimal times of year to cut popular hedges, including beech, privet and laurel hedges.
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Sign up nowIf it's getting too large then you can also prune it back in April.
It's fast growing and you can't cut back beyond the green growth, or the plant won't recover and it will leave bare patches. Little and often is the best way to keep it under control.
Beech and hornbeam hedges grow rapidly in the early part of the year, but need to grow a little after cutting to make sure there are no bare patches through the winter. If the hedges have grown too large, cut back hard in mid-winter, avoiding very cold spells.
The more you cut it, the more it forms a dense, even hedge and the easier it is to keep it to the same size. If necessary, prune it hard in April to reduce the size of the hedge.
As this plant has large, tough leaves, hedge trimmers can leave them looking ragged. Remove any damaged leaves with secateurs to keep the hedge healthy and attractive. Cut back hard in spring to reshape overgrown hedges.
Alternatively, cut every few years and leave the berries for the birds if you like an informal hedge. To reduce a large hedge, hard prune in winter.
If it's overgrown, cut back hard in spring.
If you prefer an informal hedge with berries, cut back every few years to stop it getting too large.
Escallonia can be trimmed in May and again in late August if you want a formal hedge without flowers. For an informal, flowering hedge, cut after flowering in June. Hard prune in the spring to reduce its size.
Do you need a new hedge trimmer? See the best hedge trimmers for small and large hedges.