When to cut a hedge in the UK, and when to leave it alone

Most hedges in London gardens need cutting once or twice a year. Get the timing right and the hedge stays thick, green and tidy. Get it wrong and you can end up with bare patches, scorched leaves or, worse, a disturbed bird's nest. Here is how we think about it.

The nesting season comes first

Birds love hedges, and the law protects them. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to damage or destroy an active nest. The main nesting season runs roughly from March to August, so that is when you need to take the most care.

A light trim is not banned in those months, but check the hedge properly first. Look and listen for birds going in and out. If there is a nest, leave that part of the hedge alone until the young have flown.

Late summer is the main cut

For most garden hedges, late summer into early autumn is the best time for the main cut. Growth has slowed, nesting is usually over, and the hedge has time to settle before winter. A cut now keeps it neat right through to spring.

Different hedges, different timing

• Privet and box: fast growers. They look best with two or three light trims between late spring and early autumn.
• Laurel: big leaves that look ragged when a powered trimmer slices through them. Late summer is a good time, and secateurs give a cleaner finish on a small hedge.
• Leylandii: cut once or twice a year between spring and late summer. Never cut back into old brown wood, because it will not grow back.
• Beech and hornbeam: one cut in late summer keeps the shape and helps them hold their brown leaves over winter.
• Flowering hedges: trim straight after they flower, or you cut off next year's flowers.

Avoid heatwaves and hard frosts

Cutting in a heatwave can scorch the leaves you have just exposed. Cutting in a hard frost can damage the tips. A dry, mild day is best.

What about a hedge that has got away from you?

A hedge that has been left for years can often be brought back, but it may take more than one go. Deciduous hedges such as beech and hawthorn can be cut back hard in winter, while evergreens such as privet and laurel are better done in mid-spring, checking for nests first.

Conifers like leylandii are different. If the green has gone from the inside, cutting back hard just leaves it bare. Sometimes the honest answer is that a hedge is past saving, and taking it out and starting again is the better choice. You can read about hedge removal on our services page.

Neighbours and pavements

If your hedge hangs over a pavement, the council can ask you to cut it back. If it grows over a boundary, have a friendly word with your neighbour before anything is cut on their side. It saves a lot of bad feeling.

The short version

Do the main cut in late summer, give fast growers a lighter trim in the growing season, check for nests from March to August, and avoid heatwaves and frosts. If you would rather not do it yourself, we cut hedges of every size across London. Have a look at our hedge trimming.