Hedge Cutting

Professional hedge cutting

Hedges are a lovely addition to any property. They add structure and privacy to a garden while adding some extra greenery and places for local wildlife to live. They can have many benefits, such as helping with noise reduction and flood mitigation. The problem with hedges is they end up losing their shape and grow too tall. Hedges grow at varying rates, but at some point, they all need trimming. This is where we at Bronzeleaf Tree Surgery come in. We have over ten years of experience when it comes to hedge cutting and our friendly and qualified team are on hand to make sure they get the job well done. We have the specialist equipment and training to work safely and quickly. We also take all hedge trimmings away with us and leave you with a clean and tidy garden- you don’t have to worry about a thing. Safety is the most important aspect surrounding our business and our tree surgeons work to the latest industry guidelines on behalf of all our customers in the South East.

What are the benefits of having hedges in your garden?

There are many benefits of choosing to have hedges in your garden. One of these benefits is that they can help to capture air pollution. Pollution is only getting worse and can have a significant effect on you and your family’s health. Hedges have been shown to have a good effect in improving the local air quality. Hedges do this by trapping dust particles in their leaves. The particles eventually fall off with the leaves or are washed away by rainfall. Leaves that are oval-shaped and either rough, hairy or scaley are the best ones to capture air pollution.

Hedges can offer a decent amount of protection during extreme weather conditions that cause floods. Heavy rainfall is only becoming more relevant as climate change increases. It is best to grow a large hedge if you’re concerned about flood mitigation because they have a larger surface area, and the evergreens are particularly effective. Evergreens, and other plants with large leaf surfaces, have been shown to have the best rainfall retention. This is because they slow the water from reaching the ground and reduce water runoff.

Hedges can offer a decent amount of protection during extreme weather conditions that cause floods. Heavy rainfall is only becoming more relevant as climate change increases. It is best to grow a large hedge if you’re concerned about flood mitigation because they have a larger surface area, and the evergreens are particularly effective. Evergreens, and other plants with large leaf surfaces, have been shown to have the best rainfall retention. This is because they slow the water from reaching the ground and reduce water runoff.

Hedges also offer a shield from loud noise, which is particularly good if you live on a busy road. The leaves and stems create a barrier to the noise. A wide and tall hedge is the best for this job due to the increased surface area. You would also want to pick an evergreen with a dense canopy to reduce noise and maintaining the upkeep of this kind of hedge will make the surface denser over time, making the noise barrier work even better.

Hedges are very important in supporting the local wildlife, particularly in very urban areas. How hedges can help wildlife are by creating shelter, nest sites, food resources (such as berries and flowers) and corridors for movement. If this is an important factor for you then it is best to choose a hedge that grows fruit or flowers, as this is particularly helpful for insects as they provide nectar and pollen. You can also attract this beneficial biodiversity to your garden by planting other insect and bird-friendly plants.

Why is it important to have your hedges cut?

If your hedges are not trimmed once or twice a year, they will become unkempt and too tall. This is because hedges contain plants that want to grow into trees, so to maintain your hedge this needs to be prevented. It also helps to create a dense face and top of the hedge, something which is very important if your priority is noise reduction or flood mitigation.

If well taken care of, hedges will long outlast fences, meaning that they are the most cost-effective option when it comes to creating privacy in your garden.

Furthermore, when a hedge is not maintained properly it can start to look unsightly and out of place in a neighbourhood. They may also get in people’s way if the hedge is next to a public pavement. We at Bronzeleaf Tree Surgery can advise you on how often you should have your trees and hedges trimmed, using our many years of professional experience.

How to take care of your hedges

To maintain the health of your hedges you must take care of them in between professional trims. It is important to prevent weeds from impeding on your hedge. You should weed the area by hand as often as is necessary. Always wear gloves while doing this, and if it needs some extra help, you could use a weed deterrent along both sides of the hedge.

It is very important to make sure that your hedges are getting enough water, especially during dry and sunny periods. This is especially important if the hedges are newly developing- they need a particularly good soaking during their first year. This is to make sure that the water does reach the roots. As a rough guide, you should use five litres of water per metre of edging. You should be doing this at least twice a week and should be adjusted according to the weather. It is best to water your edges when it is cloudy or in the evening so that the water can’t evaporate off the soil.

Some people choose to feed their hedges too. If this is something you want to do, then a slow-release fertiliser would be suitable. Every fertiliser is different, so make sure to carefully read the instructions on the packet and make sure to wear gloves to protect your hands. If not taken care of, hedges can become very damaged during the winter due to frost. Frost causes the soil around plants to break up, creating gaps in the surface. You must take care to check if this is happening to your hedges and to firm them back into the ground if so. Strong winds can also negatively affect your hedges. This is because they can rock them, which can cause pockets of air throughout the hedge, allowing frost to get in.

What is the best time of year to have your hedges trimmed?

Where possible, hedges should be trimmed in the winter. This is because plants are dormant in the winter and haven’t produced new buds yet. If the buds get damaged it takes longer to for the hedge to fill out again. Evergreen hedges should be trimmed just before growth starts in the spring, avoiding frost damage to the new shoots. Furthermore, pruning scars are then covered up by the new growth. When it comes to flowering hedges, it is best to have them trimmed as soon as possible after the flowers turn brown. This gives it plenty of time to start growing the buds for the following year.

When is the hedge cutting your responsibility?

It is not unusual for the responsibility of upkeeping shared hedge to be a point of contention between neighbours. If the hedge is indeed shared, the part of the hedge that is on your property is up to you to maintain. However, if you have planted a hedge on your property that ends up growing across towards your neighbour’s garden, you are still responsible for trimming it. According to the 2003 Anti-Social Behaviour Act, the local council can act against you if your hedge obstructs your neighbour’s and disrupts their ‘reasonable enjoyment'. If any damage occurs due to your hedge, then compensation to those affected is also your responsibility. However, it is always best to have a friendly discussion with your neighbour about any issues of this sort which may be a problem- it may be that an amicable arrangement can be reached. Some neighbours may agree to trim the part of your hedge that is on their property.

What hedges can we cater for?

Bronzeleaf tree surgeons can trim or reduce the height of any size hedge, whether it’s a low Box or Privet hedge needing a twice-annual trim, or an overgrown Leylandii hedge needing brought down to a reasonable height, we have the experience and equipment to carry out the task.

We use quality professional-grade equipment and pride ourselves on giving a very neat and level finish to your hedge and always clear away all the trimmings to leave your garden as we found it. We always aim to achieve the desired effect and will work with you to produce the result you want from your hedge.

Here at Bronzeleaf Tree Surgery, we have a wealth of knowledge and experience to give you the best service possible. Our friendly team of fully qualified tree surgeons are on and to give you the best advice and information about our services- they are always ready to answer any burning questions you may have. If you are interested in our services then please give us a call on 07854 369097.