Hedge Trimming
Crisp, healthy hedges trimmed and maintained to the exact shape you want.
About this service
A well-maintained hedge is one of the best boundary features in any garden — providing privacy, wildlife habitat and year-round structure. We trim all species from formal Box and Yew topiary to large Leylandii and natural-form hedgerows, working to tight tolerances with professional petrol and electric hedgetrimmers and ensuring all clippings are removed from site.
Formal Hedge Trimming
Box, Yew, Beech, Hornbeam and Privet trimmed to clean, straight lines using string lines and levels for consistency — once or twice per year depending on species.
Leylandii & Large Hedges
Tall conifer hedges require access equipment — we use lightweight podiums and long-reach hedgetrimmers to work safely at height without scaffolding.
Reduction & Renovation
Overgrown hedges can often be reduced significantly — Beech, Hornbeam, Yew and Laurel will all regenerate from hard cuts carried out at the right time of year.
Topiary Shaping
Box balls, spirals, pyramids and cloud-pruned forms maintained to their original profile using templates where precision is critical.
Clipping Removal
All hedge clippings collected and removed from site. Box clippings in particular must not be composted on site due to Box blight spore risk.
Wildlife-Sensitive Timing
We will not trim hedges during the nesting season (March to August inclusive) unless legally required. We advise on the best window for each species.
Our process
A clear, professional approach on every project — so you know what to expect at every stage.
Inspection
We check the hedge for nesting birds (especially March–August), disease (Box blight, Yew canker), dead sections and any areas needing renovation rather than trimming.
Access Set-up
Groundsheets are laid below the hedge to collect clippings. Stepladders, podiums or extended-reach equipment are set up as required for the height.
Trimming
Sides are trimmed first, working from the bottom up, then the top. String lines are used for formal hedges to maintain a consistent batter (slight inward lean on the sides).
Collection & Clearance
Clippings are collected from groundsheets and the base of the hedge, loaded and removed from site. The surrounding area is raked and blown clean.
Common questions
Practical answers to the questions we hear most often about hedge trimming.
When is the best time to trim a hedge?
Most hedges are best trimmed in late summer (August–September) after the main growing flush but before nesting birds return. Formal hedges such as Box may need two cuts — a light one in June and a tidying cut in September.
Can an overgrown Leylandii be reduced in height?
Yes, but only down to green growth — Leylandii will not regenerate from brown wood. We assess how far back the green live growth extends before advising how much can be safely removed.
My Box hedge has brown patches — is it Box blight?
Possibly. Box blight (Cylindrocladium buxicola) and Box tree caterpillar are both common in Hampshire. We can advise on identification and treatment — affected sections must be carefully removed and bagged, not composted.
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Learn moreReady to get started?
Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote on your hedge trimming project. We cover Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire.