Thinning hedges

[HDAV]

Got a couple of hedges that have become too thick...

 

a beech hedge and a privet both were under managed for a time and while almost under control they are much wider than they were and need to be....

 

what the best/easiest way to reduce them?

 

when is the best time of year?

 

thinking a chainsaw with a long bar and just cut everything back 12”

[Mick Dempsey]

Don’t worry about deciduous v non deciduous or the RHS.

 

Privet is fine any time of year.

 

[Stere]

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

[Stubby]

Remember the " nesting bird " rule .

[nepia]

The privet you could do at any time of year; it won't suffer.  From the second pic I reckon you'd do most of it with an HS81 cutter; that barely notices 1/2" stems.  

But yes, wait for the birdies to stop nesting please; even if there isn't a nest there now that looks a great place to build one late in the season in the case, say, of the first being destroyed.

 

Re the beech hedge now is probably almost the worst time - the leaves are on the brink of unfurling.  July onwards I'd say.

[HDAV]

RHS says deciduous hedge mid winter so Beech needs to wait?

 

evergreen mid spring which is now?

 

no birds nest witnessed in the section of hedge concerned. 

 

Not being able to cut hedges between Feb and August must make life awkward for the pros 5 months of the worst weather to work outside...

Edited April 2, 2019 by HDAV