Many of us here in the UK will have a hedge in the garden. They’re great for adding some evergreen colour to your space, as well as creating privacy, and you need to do very little in order to care for them.
However, one thing that does need to be done is giving it a cut every now and then so it doesn’t grow too big. Late spring or early summer is a good time to do it for the first time this year, but before you do, there’s one vital check you should make. Michael the Mediterrenean Gardener on TikTok said ‘maintenance pruning’ is key, but failing to be careful could mean you’re breaking the law.
According to the pro, you must ‘always’ check your hedges for signs of nesting birds before you give it a trim.
To do this, simply look for dense patches where they might have built their nests. Any activity, such as birds often flying in and out of the hedge, can also be a sign.
If you do spot any signs then trimming the hedge is a bad idea. Not only could it potentially harm the birds, but you could also be breaking the law.
Michael said: “If you see any birds this should be postponed, as knowingly pruning when nesting birds are present would be breaking the law under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.”
Bird nesting season runs from March to September in the UK, so it’s really important you check your hedge carefully before taking a trimmer to it. But when you do, carrying out a few simple steps can create much better results.
First, you should use your shearers to ‘sweep up’ the branches of your hedge before you cut, to help you get a better shape and identify any sparse patches.
Ideally, you want the top to be narrower than the bottom – those ‘perfect rectangle’ hedges are a no-go for one important reason.
The sun won’t be able to infiltrate to the bottom of the hedge if it’s this shape, or if the top is wider. This will make the bottom of your hedge look scraggly and uncared for, which can ruin the appearance of your garden.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, you should rake the clippings off the top of your hedge for the same reason, and to encourage good growth.
You can sweep these up and add them to your compost bin when you’re finished, ideally in layers between other material.