How To Care For Your Hedges In Winter

Hedges, like any other plant, require their fair share of maintenance in order to maintain your garden and keep it looking healthy.

Here at Gustharts, we want to advise you on the importance of hedge trimming and how to take care of your hedges in winter.

Table of contents

• The importance of hedge trimming
• How to trim hedges
• When is the best time to trim hedges?
• How do I care for hedges in winter?

The importance of hedge trimming

To help take care of your hedges, it is important to know exactly how important the maintenance is. So why exactly is hedge trimming needed and what damage can be done if it’s left too long?

Hedge trimming improves safety

One of the main advantages of trimming your hedge is safety. If hedges are not properly cared for when the bad weather comes around, the risk of loose debris and branches significantly increases. Loose debris and branches can cause a greater risk of damaging your property if they were to be picked up during bad weather. Trimming your hedge and keeping it well maintained greatly reduces the risk of loose debris.

Hedge trimming keeps gardens healthy

Trimming your hedge can also help keep your landscape looking aesthetically pleasing. By taking constant care of your garden, your garden area can become more sustainable and encourage environmental friendliness. Frequent care of your hedge can also encourage new growth, keeping your garden in great shape.

Hedge trimming can prevent disease spreading

By not taking care of your hedge or garden, the opportunity for bugs and disease can rapidly spread. Trimming the dead parts of a plant will prevent the spread of infestation and help to keep your garden looking amazing.

How to trim hedges

Trimming your hedge is important for keeping your garden in fantastic condition, so it is important to know  how to trim a hedge properly. If you started trimming a hedge without not really knowing how to do it, you could end up ruining the landscape of your garden.

So how do you trim a hedge?

Step 1: Start at the bottom

The first step is to start at the bottom of the hedge, working your way up to the top at a slow and steady pace. Trim off a couple of inches at a time to allow yourself more room to manouvre in getting the hedge exactly how you want it. You could ruin the hedge by overcompensating and trimming off more than you need the first time round.

Step 2: Trim at an angle

Trimming at an angle is a key aspect of hedge trimming. Keeping the hedge wider at the bottom and thinner at the top allows sunlight to reach all areas of the hedge, helping the hedge grow healthily.

Step 3: Prune by hand

Once you have trimmed your hedge, you will need to cut back any dead or diseased branches. For dead or diseased branches in the hedge, the best way to clear them is by using a pair of hand pruners. This allows you to precisely cut away any branches that need to be cleared, keeping your hedge intact and looking great.

When is the best time to trim hedges?

Now you know how to trim your hedge effectively, knowing when to trim your hedge is just as important. Late spring, early fall or winter is the best time to trim your hedge. Deciduous trees are best trimmed in winter as the branch structure is more visible, whereas evergreen trees are best trimmed in April as they come into growth. Both evergreen and deciduous hedges are most suited for maintenance each summer.

It is crucial to be careful what you are trimming between the months of March and August. These months are the typical timeline for bird nesting season. Check for any nesting birds in your hedges before trimming to avoid harming local wildlife. It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built.

How do I care for hedges in winter?

If ever a harsh cold winter comes around, knowing how to care for your hedges is important to maintain your garden.

One of the most efficient ways to maintain and protect your hedge during winter is to add a cover over any hedge that could be at risk from the cold temperatures. Materials such as bracken, straw, polystyrene and fleece can be used in order to protect your garden.

Another way to protect your hedge in winter is by adding a layer of mulch to the base of your hedge. By adding a thick layer of mulch, the roots of the hedge will be protected from the cold temperatures, resulting in the hedge staying healthy and not dying.

By following the tips from this blog, keeping your hedge maintained and in top condition should be easier than ever. To help get you started, why not shop the latest Gustharts hedge trimmers or brushcutters and strimmers?

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