Topic: Overgrown hedges

[woodypecks]

Is it time to cut my overgrown hedges yet ?

[Trevor_D]

Depends what they are and how overgrown. And are birds nesting in them?

We have a hawthorn hedge along the road frontage of our site which we have to keep trimmed, but we always leave it until early/mid July because of the birds.

[landimad]

I would not cut them back now as you do not know if there is wildlife in there nesting.
Leave it until August for the safety of the birds and other wildlife that are in there.
I do mine in the last two weeks of August every year.
One thing I forgot, what type of hedging is it that you have?
Another thing is, Deciduous or evergreen?
If deciduous then have you thought about getting it laid to make it stronger and more beneficial for the wildlife?

[woodypecks]

I had a feeling someone would ask that !  ::) I dont know ...its not privit  but a finer leafed thing .... a bit like box only smaller leaves . Evergreen ..and I have three clumps of it cut into large tightly clipped  domes /balls ......topiary kind of  .   Yes you are right ..must be careful about birds nesting . Thanks .

[landimad]

Just have a peek into these and see if there are any nests.
If not then give it a trim with a pair of shears for now and leave the main cut until late summer.

[gp.girl]

http://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/Honeysuckle-Shrub-Lonicera-Nitida

Does it look like this?

Could be golden leaved too.

Very tough plant will take almost any abuse  :) Great for topiary in a 'hurry'

[woodypecks]

gp-girl  .....Yes Thats it ! 

Landimad ....Thankyou...I will be very careful of any nesting birds .  These bushes will be easy to look carefuly into and if any creature is in there , then I will not touch at all . 

 Thanks again  .