Hedges that can be cut back hard
Privet, laurel, beech, hornbeam, hawthorn and yew usually recover from a hard reduction. It is best done in late winter or early spring, before the nesting season begins, and often staged over two years for the best recovery.
Hedges that may not recover
Leylandii and many other conifers do not regrow from bare brown wood. If you cut into the brown, those areas stay bare. Reduce them in stages, keeping some green growth, or consider replacing them.
When removal makes more sense
If a hedge is thin, patchy, diseased or far too large to reduce safely, removal and replacement is often cheaper in the long run. We can remove the hedge, take the waste away and, if you want, prepare the ground for a new lawn or planting.
What to do about a neighbour's hedge
Your neighbour is responsible for keeping their hedge in check, and you can trim anything growing over your boundary as long as you do not damage the hedge. Speak to them first. It usually saves a dispute.
Frequently asked questions
Can you cut a leylandii hedge back hard?
Not usually. Leylandii will not regrow from bare brown wood, so it needs reducing gradually while some green remains.
Do you take the cuttings away?
Yes. All trimmings and waste are removed as standard.