13 replies to this topic

[Del Trott]

Can i reduce the size of a hedge (Box Hedging) this time of year!!

The idea is to reduce my garden hedge by about a foot but i didn't want to cause the hedge any stress over the winter and die!!

Any advise would be so much appreciated .

Edited by Del Trott, 27 September 2011 - 12:49 .

[Lancashire Lass]

Cutting back by that much is best done mid summer I believe and then final trimming and shaping in early Autumn. So might be best to wait until next summer to do it.

[Del Trott]

Would early spring be out of the question do you think!

[Mountain Snow]

Best to cut back after all risk of frost has past. Also if cut in the summer it'll regrow much faster than early spring.
The last thing you want is a big dead patch killed by a late, hard frost. I'm sure you know how slow box grows so a new plant would take many years to fill the gap!

[Del Trott]

Thank you too you both, i shall wait until the last risk of frost has past then give it a old cut.

Cheers.

[crepuscular ray]

It may be tedious, but you can always keep clipping it a bit at a time during the early summer next year if it looks like getting too enthusiastic again.

[jethro]

I wouldn't advise cutting it back by that much in one go, much better to phase it over a couple of seasons. Any time between May and end of August will be fine, earlier or later than that and you risk die back from frost.

How tall is the hedge?

[Del Trott]

The hedge is about 4foot tall and 2foot wide.

Well as it happens a chap down the road has just taken a good 2foot of his so it will be interesting what becomes of it but it does look
horrendous seeing the bare wood, i ask him if he new what he was doing (in a nice way) to avoid been smacked in the noise and he said
" yer it'll grow back no problem" and some of the branches/shoots are inch thick!!!

[jethro]

Are you sure it's Box? That's a tremendous size and would be many years old. Is there a chance it could be Privet?

[Lancashire Lass]

Ah if it's privet then hard prune in spring.

[Del Trott]

Oh dear, yes it is indeed a privet Jethro (could please change the title) and after a quick search it looks like you can give it a good cutting back with no problems but if i do it now its just going to look tatty until spring .

The question is to cut now or wait till next year!!!

[jethro]

Del Trott, on 28 September 2011 - 09:16 , said:

Oh dear, yes it is indeed a privet Jethro (could please change the title) and after a quick search it looks like you can give it a good cutting back with no problems but if i do it now its just going to look tatty until spring .

The question is to cut now or wait till next year!!!

Title changed.

I'd leave it until next Spring; Privet is as tough as old boots but if we get a harsh winter again on recently pruned old wood you could end up with major die back and a hedge which ends up much shorter than you intended.

[Kiwi]

I cut my privet twice a year... spring and early autumn.
I'll be giving my privet a light trim next week....just to tidy it up a bit before the winter.

However, as others have said I'd leave any heavy duty cutting back until the spring.

[Del Trott]

Thank you every one,

Its shame as this warm weather really gets you in the mood for sorting out the garden, tidying up ready for winter and this job as been on the back of my mind for some time now should i shouldn't i . Oh well i think its best as you say and wait till spring.

Cheers all.