Conifer Trimming and Frost

[18 stoner]

Ive been doing quite a lot of catching up with conifer trimming lately, but often get asked by customers if its ok doing them at this time of year.

 

Hedges are not a large part of my work, but i do get enough to be viable doing, but, last autumn i got well behind as a result of the amount of tree work we had on.

 

I have in the past seen conifers with extensive "burn" on them from hardly a couple of degrees of frost, but i did some in mid December before the cold spell over xmas and they are fine.

 

Just wondered what others thoughts are, and what advice you give to customers about timing, as some do seem to get very concerned.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

It's a risk so I tend not to. However, the susceptibility might be influencd by the frequency of that cut and how hard plus the timing of frost on newly cut foliage

[slack ma girdle]

I prune those loverly hairy hedges in april and may, when the frosts are over. The tree then has the summer to put on new growth, which then has time to harden off before the following winter. Having said that i did prune a hedge last week, but that had some burn, and i wanted to remove it while it is dormant. I have no idea if it will work, but i want to try something otherwise the hedge is going to cark it. I also laid down old blankets to catch all the clipping, to make sure that none were left behind. Then had a lovely smokey fire to burn it all.

[Stephen Blair]

i think it wind that does more damage as it dries out the cuts, if the hedges are by the sea then go easy, i am doing some this week, its in a garden that is sicluded and on the sheltered side of the prevailing wind and i only take the edge off, if it was in spring time i would go another 1-2 inches deeper

[slack ma girdle]

i think it wind that does more damage as it dries out the cuts

 

That would make sense, as most of the browning was on the west side of the hedge which bares the brunt of the odd blow of wind that we get here.

[Stephen Blair]

yeah, the wind just dries out the ends, and since the sap isnt up it just dries up, if you get a lot of salty wind like we do then everything gets it, even escalonia and gums. Give yourself something to play with, so if you leave a bit on and just really make some square edges and tidy the hedge, then customer is happy and has a head start for spring time but advise them to go heavy about july, get it cut back to the quick, fill in just lovely for autumn but put that little bit more on through october/early november for the winter beating lol, but we havent had much wind here this winter. if the hedges havent been maintained then your cuts will be bigger, so more risk i reckon. if its thuja then they regen lovely like spruce will, so get stuck in ha ha

[18 stoner]

Ok, some good input so far, but, i believe there is something much more important you guys are missing;

 

Sharp trimmers!

 

What do you think about that cold wind being worse on those "bruised" cuts, against clean cuts?

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Ok, some good input so far, but, i believe there is something much more important you guys are missing;

 

Sharp trimmers!

 

What do you think about that cold wind being worse on those "bruised" cuts, against clean cuts?

 

Yes, that is a good point. Need to sharpen my 30" echo this spring...

[Stephen Blair]

Ok, some good input so far, but, i believe there is something much more important you guys are missing;

 

Sharp trimmers!

 

What do you think about that cold wind being worse on those "bruised" cuts, against clean cuts?

 

i didnt miss it mate, mine are new and super sharp:thumbup: