Tall Trees

Help
I have six tall conifers that I would like to trim and shape the edges can any one advise what time of year I should do this and which way do I cut from up or down as I dont want them to look brown or burnt Thanks Poppy

 

Hi Poppy
What sort of conifers are they? Leylandii? Thuja? Cypress? Usual time to trim is about now - end August. If they are leylandii, you can't cut into brown as it won't regenerate, Thuja is quite forgiving of how hard back you cut it, as long as you don't scalp it!
+ What do you mean "cut up or down"?

 

Hi Bayleaf Never knew they were so many different kinds of these trees I think they could be cypress,they are about eight feet tall and well shaped but rather untidy at the moment, to be honest Im not sure but the birds love to fly in them which I love to see
I do have some Leyladis in the front garden which forms a kind of living fence which also needs to be trimmed
when I said cut up or down I meant trimmed up and down rather than side to side, Poppy

 

hi Poppy
I'm not a hedge expert, but when I cut 'em, I go from the top down when using hand shears & from bottom up when using a hedge trimmer. I'm sure there will be someone out there who knows for sure!!! + if the birds are nesting in them, I'd leave it till the babies are fledged.

 

Thanks Bayleaf for your info I have had a go with a hedge trimmer but I found it to heavy for me so it will be the shears for the future as for the birds they are welcome to live there for as long as they want Thanks again Poppy

 

Mmmm, if you find a hedge trimmer heavy, and there are some very light weight trimmers on the market and shears can be very tiring - then I would investigate the possibility and cost of a local but qualified arboreal surgeon. The cost of shearing six trees, once, perhaps twice a year, could be worth it.

 

Thank you all for all your different kinds of advice. Poppy

 

Hello Poppy,
I expect by now that you have trimmed your Conifers,but as all your reply's indicate, now is the best time to trim conifers July - August .
I personally don't use machine cutters on conifers as they are one of the hardest varieties to trim by machine , ( leaving a rough cut to the foliage )I personally use a very sharp ligthweight shears made by ARS (Japan). They are extremely light and I do not get tired even using them all day.
Hope this helps.

 

Thanks to all
re my conifers I had them all trimmed by the garden doctor his charge was �£50 for six at the rear and four at the front.
they look good and the birds are flying in and out all day. happy days to all Poppy