Cotswolds Garden - FAQs
Frequently asked gardening related questions
The optimal time to prune hedges in the UK largely depends on whether the hedge is deciduous or evergreen, and its desired formality. For formal evergreen hedges (e.g., box, privet, yew), regular clipping is needed to maintain shape. This usually means two to three times a year, from late spring (after the first flush of growth) through to late summer. Avoid pruning too late in autumn, as new growth might be susceptible to frost. For deciduous hedges (e.g., hawthorn, beech, hornbeam), the main structural prune is generally carried out in winter (November to March) when the plants are dormant and leafless. Informal or flowering hedges are usually pruned after flowering. Crucially, always check for nesting birds before pruning any hedge between March and August to avoid disturbing or harming them; if nests are present, delay pruning until the young have fledged.