Pruning
Formal hedges
Hedge trimming usually means working at height and using sharp or powered blades. Use a stable step, tripod or platform ladder rather than stretching above shoulder height, wear safety goggles and thick gloves, and keep hands and cable clear of the blades. Some common hedging plants have irritant or poisonous leaves and sap, such as cherry laurel, yew and euphorbia, so wash off any sap, wear gloves, and do not sit cut cherry laurel clippings in a closed car or bag as they give off cyanide fumes.
- Where to get help
- NHS 111, or seek medical advice
Keeps them dense and green right to the bottom.
When
Outside the main bird nesting season (March to August in Britain); if you must trim in summer, check for active nests first and stop if you find one, as damaging a nest in use is an offence under the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
How
Trim with a slight batter (wider at the base). Once or twice a year.
Notes
Check for nesting birds first (see Hedges & Boundaries).