Hedging

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery Trim a Thuja (western red cedar) hedge once or twice a year between spring and early autumn — and unlike Leylandii, Thuja can regenerate from older wood, so it is far more forgiving...

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery Trim a hornbeam hedge once a year in late summer (around August) — like beech, a clipped hornbeam holds its coppery leaves through winter, and it thrives even on the heavy, wet clay...

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery Prune a Portuguese laurel hedge once or twice a year, with the main cut in summer — and because its leaves are smaller than cherry laurel's, you can use shears or a trimmer...

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery Trim a privet hedge two or three times between spring and autumn to keep it dense and neat — privet is fast and vigorous, so it needs cutting more often than most hedges....

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery Cut a yew hedge once a year in late summer (around late August or September) for a crisp, formal finish — and unlike other conifers, yew can be renovated hard, because it readily...

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery Trim a beech hedge once a year in late summer (around August) — this single annual cut keeps it dense and, crucially, encourages it to hold its coppery-brown leaves through winter for year-round...

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery Keep a box hedge healthy by clipping once or twice a year in dry weather, feeding in spring, and taking simple steps to prevent box blight — good airflow, clean tools, and watering...

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery Cut a Leylandii hedge two or three times between spring and early autumn to keep it dense and to size — and never cut back into the old brown wood, because Leylandii will...

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery Yellowing or browning laurel is most often caused by waterlogged or compacted soil, drought stress, frost or wind scorch, or hedge-trimmer damage — rarely by disease. A few cut-edged brown leaves are only...

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery Prune Photinia ‘Red Robin’ two or three times during the growing season — each cut triggers a fresh flush of the vivid red young leaves it is grown for. Trim lightly as growth...

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery Trim a cherry laurel hedge once or twice a year — the main cut in mid to late summer (around July or August) once birds have finished nesting, with an optional light tidy...