Autumn jobs - hedge cutting and maintenance

Whilst many people choose to do their hedge cutting in spring or summer, giving your hedge a trim in the autumn can be beneficial “ it just depends on the kind of hedge!

In this guide, we look at when an autumn cut is right for your hedge, and the best way to approach the job to ensure that they look neat and tidy for winter, and are ready to flourish when spring arrives.

When an autumn cut is best

Deciduous hedges

Deciduous hedges can be cut at any time“ but if you only want to do the job once a year, cutting in autumn can be the most cost-effective and time efficient way to do it, keeping them looking neat and tidy until the end of the following summer.

As a rule of thumb, a late autumn or winter cut is also the best way to rejuvenate a deciduous hedge, or to help a new hedge to establish because it stimulates the root growth, strengthening the hedge ready to burst into life in spring.

For overgrown hedges, a thorough autumn cut can be the best option. This is because the bird-nesting season in the UK runs from 1^st March to 31^st July “ and anything more than a light trim during this time has the potential to damage nests and disrupt nesting birds.

Evergreen hedges

Generally, its best to cut evergreen hedges in the spring, and to do your maintenance at the end of summer, although you can do a light maintenance cut into the autumn months to keep it looking neat for winter.

Try not to cut conifer hedges after late summer, as it can leave you with bare patches until the following spring!

What shape to cut

As a rule, the base of a hedge should always be wider than the top “ its known as cutting your hedge to a batter, and will prevent the top branches and foliage from shading the bottom.

The shape you cut your hedge comes down to personal preference, but youll probably want to create a nice straight and even edge “ which can be difficult to do by eye!

To avoid a wonky hedge, put some vertical canes parallel to the hedge, and run some string between them. This will give you both horizontal and vertical lines as a reference point.

If youre using a hedge trimmer, then keeping your blade parallel to the hedge and starting at the bottom will help you to create clean lines, and allow the cut foliage to fall away without getting stuck in the branches below.

Giving it space to grow

Its really important that any hedge is given enough space to grow, and this is especially important with newly planted hedges, or those that look a little under the weather.

As a guide, you should leave at least a foot of bare soil either side of the hedge, and water and mulch it regularly until the hedge is fully established and looking healthy.

The right tools for the job

Having the right tools will make your hedge-cutting job much easier “ a good pair of high quality hedge shears may be enough for maintaining small hedges, but for anything larger, youll want to invest in some more powerful machinery.

There are plenty of options, from simple electric versions with a power cord, to convenient cordless electric trimmers and more powerful petrol units “ designed to meet a full range of budgets and requirements.

If cutting your hedge with hand tools like secateurs, loppers and hedge shears, its vital that they are kept nice and sharp, so that you get a nice clean cut, and avoid bruising and splitting the ends of the branches. This adaptable garden tool sharpener will bring any blunt tools back to tip-top cutting condition.

How we can help

At Keen Gardener, youll find a full range of top quality manual, electric and petrol hedge cutting tools from some of the worlds leading manufacturers, all at unbeatable prices.