Best way to reduce a hedge depth

[HDAV]

Need some advice on some old and well established but close to causing issues hedges.

 

 

Long and complicated story but I was asked by my mum to cut some hedges and have been doing so for a couple of years. They were once well tended but were allowed to get out of hand and are being kept under control just about now.

 

problem is they are now 5’ deep and keep spreading I’m thinking he answer is to cut them back 12” -18” plus and let them regrow as now going any deeper is too thick for a hedge cutter, would a chainsaw be the answer? The far end it the worst the side you see is a veg patch beyond is a paddock and he paddock side in parts it’s so deep even a long reach hedge cutter from both sides struggles my thinking is to cut the paddock side right back? Also run a chain saw across the top to level it off and bring it down to shoulder height.

 

 

Out of shot to the left is a beech hedge again now 5’ deep in parts as it was left in trimmmed for a number of years and has put on thick tough growth. This is now blocking he path and while neat it is too big.

[daveatdave]

as others cut it back 6" harder than the ideal size to allow for regrowth but get to it very soon before the bird nesting season and use whatever tools are needed to do the job  

[Wonkydonkey]

I’ve attacked a big hedge  with a chainsaw, cos it was to thick for the hs45. but I only did 2 sides not 3. The next yr I did the other side

You will get a lot of growth  once cut back so you will have to keep cutting it to keep the shape you want.

and yep as others say cut back to more then you got a place to keep it to. And be able to use the hedge trimmer with ease.

[Stere]

Good advice here:

 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=398

 

The 3 yrs thing is sensible for dramatic hegde lops so you don't stress the hedge plants too much.

[headgroundsman]

cut it back hard it will soon grow back

[woody paul]

3 minutes ago, headgroundsman said:

cut it back hard it will soon grow back

Yer well back beyond finished width and high so you only have to cut light growth next time.

[headgroundsman]

1 minute ago, woody paul said:

Yer well back beyond finished width and high so you only have to cut light growth next time.

fully agree

[HDAV]

OK great my thought was to leave the inside face as it’s better and cut the outside back hard soon so it can regrow this season.

 

it has previously been cut back hard and this thick woody broth it the hedge trimmers limit.

 

thinking of putting an ove size bar on chain saw just for the task. What size saw to run 24” bar and what chain or doesn’t it matter cutting lots of 1-2” branches at once instead of 20” limbs?

[huskykev]

Get a tractor/digger and flail in for a few hours and save yourself a lot of ballache....

[Stere]

Loppers & silkysaw & maybe small chainsaw would do for hegde in pic, wouldn't bother with massive bars imo. Find were the  base of the trunks are & cut on the side thats grown out widest out from the middle first imo.

 

 

Cleaning/raking up all the bits is what takes ages, not so much  the actually cutting as it creates massive pile of stuff if you cut a load off.

 

Also Cut/strim the grass short along the sides hedge first &  consider getting tarp for stuff to fall onto, then you can drag stuff on tarp.

[nepia]

...to the nearby bonfire; that piece of ground is made for it.