best time to cut conifer hedge

Conifers should be cut only twice a year at different times. For example, pruning should be done in late winter or early spring when the trees are dormant whereas trimming should be performed in late summer or early autumn when conifers have shed their needles.

Can I cut my conifer hedge in winter?

Light foliage pruning should be done in spring and summer, but avoid particularly hot and dry weather. ... Any heavy pruning, on broadleaves or conifers, should be done in autumn and winter, because resinous conifers bleed when cut, especially in spring and summer.

When should you not cut hedges?

We recommend avoiding hedge cutting during the main breeding season for nesting birds, which usually runs throughout March to August each year. This can be weather dependent and some birds may nest outside this period, so it is important to always check carefully for active nests prior to cutting.

How do you trim an overgrown conifer hedge?

Tidying Up A Conifer Hedge

In early to mid-spring, cut the height of your hedge back by up to a third. Prune some of the side branches right back to the leader and leave others uncut. Doing this will encourage growth by letting light and air into the plant, allowing the remaining stems to branch out.

How do you reduce the height of a conifer hedge?

Conifer hedges

Reduce the height by up to one-third in April.
Thin out the side branches, removing selected branches right back to the trunk but leaving the others intact. ...
Mulch and feed in spring to encourage vigorous re-growth.
Allow at least a full growing season for recovery.

Can I cut the top off my conifer?

Evergreens should not be topped, or cut off at a certain height, because this will produce trees that are anything but attractive. Trees that are topped are also at a greater risk for disease and other ailments. Do not prune conifer trees too late in the year.

How do you reduce the height of a leylandii hedge?

The best way to reduce the height of a Leylandii is through regular pruning. We recommend that you prune your Leylandii hedge two-three times a year. Cutting off enough ensures that the height remains short within legal limits and you will not face any problems.

Can my Neighbour cut the top of my hedge?

If you own the tree or hedge

Your neighbour can cut any branches that are overhanging into their garden as long as they only remove the bits on their side of the boundary. If they want you to cut your tree or hedge just because they don't like the way it looks, it's up to you whether you do the work.

Can my Neighbour cut my hedge down without permission?

By law you are entitled to cut back the roots and growth of your neighbour's hedges where they cross into your property, however you are not allowed to cut hedges on their property without permission. Similarly, your neighbour can trim your hedge on their property if it is becoming an issue.

When can you start hedge cutting?

You should not cut or trim hedges or trees between the dates of March 1st and September 1st without a derogation. You may only apply for a derogation if you plan to cut hedges before any new grass ley or oil seed rape is sown in the Autumn.

How often should you trim a conifer hedge?

Quick-growing conifers will need about three cuts per year during the growing season, at roughly eight week intervals. Inspect your hedge thoroughly before trimming it to ensure there are no birds nesting within.

How do you encourage hedge growth?

How Do I Trim My Hedge To Encourage Growth? To encourage even growth of your hedge plant, trim it at the right time of year – cutting back new growth at the top of the plant in Spring will redirect the growth hormones down to existing areas, leading to a thicker hedge in the Summer.

What is the legal height of a hedge between Neighbours?

Ask your council for a complaint form if the hedge is all of these: 2 or more mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs. over 2 metres tall. affecting your enjoyment of your home or garden because it's too tall.

Do conifers ever stop growing?

However, it is very common for conifers to get too large for their site. Dwarf conifers in many cases are not actually dwarf but just slow growing and in time will become large and outgrow their space. ... Most conifers will not regrow from old wood if you prune into this.

How high can leylandii grow legally?

hedges over two metres tall.

Why have my conifers gone brown?

Conifers lose moisture through their needles in winter, causing them to dehydrate. This is normal and will not cause the tree any long-term damage. The lost water through the needles and the frozen, dry soil that does not provide moisture to the tree roots results in a few needles turning brown.

Do conifers die when cut down?

In their native habitat this is an adaptation to forest fires. If you do not want them to regrow act swiftly after felling. Conifers on the other hand never regrow. So if you cut down a Leyland hedge it will not regenerate from the base, however those resinous stumps will persist, taking many years to rot down.

How close to a house can you plant a conifer?

If you're considering planting large conifer trees, you should always aim to plant at least 35 meters away from a property. You should also make sure you check the size of the mature tree, not the size at the time of planting. Although conifer roots are shallow, they spread up to seven times as wide as they mature.

How far can you cut back leylandii?

Aphids & Leylandii

Only trim your Leylandii hedge once a year.
Don't cut your hedge back too hard, just to the same point each year, leaving 4 inches (10cm) of green growth on the hedge.
Trim your hedge in spring or summer, not late autumn.

Do leylandii roots affect foundations?

Leylandii trees will grow fast but their roots will not penetrate buildings or foundations. They are very shallow rooted and very fibrous thin roots. Leylandii are not good but they are not that bad. All over the country there are millions of trees planted close to houses.

How close to property line can I plant shrubs?

Logically speaking, when it comes to planting trees, good neighborliness would imply that trees be planted at a reasonable distance from the neighbor's property, enough so they won't harm it. ... And a shrub or hedge not exceeding 2 m (6 ½ feet) in height must be planted at least 50 cm (20 inches) from the property line.

How tall can a hedge be?

When a hedge grows over 2m (6½ft), the local authority does not automatically take action, unless a justifiable complaint is made. The law can not be used as a preventative measure – the hedge must already be above 2m (approx 6½ft) tall and impairing reasonable enjoyment.