Cutting Hedge on December?

Would it be OK to cut hedge in this time? Temperature has been mild and with lots of rain so far, hedge has been still growing.

 

Good morning @wiseowl

It is privet hedge. We have Leylandi on the side too.

 

Personally I wouldn't prune either now and I'd wait until about April as you might encourage new soft growth which would be damaged with cold weather. If you are desperate to prune at least 1 of the hedges I would prune the Privet and definitely leave the Leylandii which surprisingly perhaps is not quite as tough as old boots like Pivet. You don't indicate where you live which would have a bearing. If you are in a relatively mild area and it is sheltered from icy winds you will have a better chance with pruning now if you really feel the need.

 

Got a new hedge trimmer, and was trying out. It worked so nice, I was carried way, and ended up trimming Leylandi, which has grown so much this winter, and looked ugly. It looks now sharp and smart. But there are a few brown patches and holes now. With the new trimmer working so well and powerful, I was never been able to trim that much before.

I hope it will survive. It is about 20ft high and 8ft wide.

The Privet hedge has not grown that much since I cut it on this October, but I thought I might just try my new hedge trimmer on it , but was wondering if it will be not easy for them wintering January and February coming.

We are in the central belt outside of Edinburgh, and it has been very mild for winter season, but today for the first time it gone down to -2 or -3. Frost is on the grass and also on the shed roof, and now lunch time it is about 1 degree above 0.

New Pressure Washer is due to arrive this afternoon as well, but not sure if outside tap will be thawed by then, for me to try that out

 

Most trees are now dormant. Winter is an excellent time to prune hedges.

 

I wouldnt where I live. Frost and snow this weekend for example. A hard frost and prolonged freeze may damage a freshly pruned leylandi especially.

 

I read it somewhere too, but then no one seems doing any gardening during this time of the year in this area.

 

"Most trees are now dormant. Winter is an excellent time to prune hedges". This really applies more to deciduous hedges which neither of yours are. I have Beech hedges which are deciduous and these can be pruned any time between now and next spring. I don't live far away from you and stuck my nose outside the door about 10 mins ago. The wind is baltic and is just the kind of weather to damage hedges with new growth.
Just be honest you want to play with your new toy and that's the reason you want to prune your hedges now.

 

Yes, today is also cold, but not as cold as yesterday. I can see bird bath water is thawed a bit through the ice the now. Yesterday it was solid ice all day.

New hedge trimmer was good bargain hard to resist. When tried, it works so good. And then I look at the hedges, and they could do with good trimming I feel.

I was wondering if anyone also prune their hedges this time of the year, and if the hedges will like trimming or not

 

I wouldn't worry about it, I cut hedges all the time in winter especially leylandii, the privet may go abit bare trimming at this time of year but it may lose its leaves anyway due to be semi evergreen. I would advise not to trim in extreme cold temperatures but its unlikely you want to be out there anyway .

 

Hedgefog

I fully understand the temptation to use the new hedgetrimmer

I cut hedges and many shrubs at this time of year but it is milder here than most places. Remember, it is the new growth that could be activated that is problematic in cold areas....this is softer and more sensitive to the cold and could die back. For me it means a job done and one less to do in the spring.

On balance, privet is tough and pretty well indestructible......go for it
Leylandii? Maybe delay for a couple of months

 

I think I read the same from somewhere before, but wasn't certain and couldn't be sure. So asked about it.

For the weather today, yes, temperature is not as low as yesterday, but the wind is biting cold. I went out to garden, but soon pushed back into the house by the chill.

 

Thank you Verdun for your info and advice.

Yes, I can see what you mean with privet hedges being tough. They grow through the holes in the wooden panel on the soil at the corner of the garden here trying to expand their grounds.

Leylandi has been already trimmed 2 days ago, and they are about 12ft high and 4ft wide. They were about 15ft high, but I cut about 2-3ft now better looking with sides all trimmed neatly. Just have to see how they will do. When I was cutting the Leylandi I had no idea about timing. Just came up as after thought after the trimming.

And they kept growing and growing so much through this winter, it looked so untidy and their leaves were taking up lot of space in the garden.