This is the best part of the year for many gardens. Lots of flowers and hedges will be in bloom and producing a wonderful display for us to appreciate. This is good news but of course it also brings with it some essential tasks. These include keeping on top of weeding, dead heading flowers that are past their best and also trimming back the hedge.
But when should you trim your hedge? Is there a right time and a wrong time to do it? Does it depend on the type of hedge you have?
Well let’s start with the last question, because it can indeed depend on the hedge you have. You should never trim any hedge when it is in flower. The best times are either before or after the flowers have come and gone, depending on whether it needs it or not. Ideally you should trim it up before the buds appear, and then when the last flowers have gone after the summer you can trim it again.
Obviously it is easier to do this with your hedge trimmers because it will mean less work for you, particularly if you have a large hedge. Pick the right time of the year for your particular hedge and trim it all over. Don’t cut it back too far; even if you have a fast growing hedge you should trim it several times a year rather than hacking it back a great distance just once a year. It will help it to grow into a healthy hedge that doesn’t grow out of control.
One good way to keep track of whether your hedge needs trimming is simply to keep an eye on it over time. It might also be a good idea to find out more about your particular hedge, as the best time for trimming could depend on what you have. The age of the hedge could also be a factor, and whether it has been largely well kept until now.
As you can see, the answers to these questions will help a lot – as will your hedge trimmer.