Tips for Hedge trimming

[mdvaden]

Not sure what your climate is like. In Portland, we can see 90 degrees F. by late May sometimes and 100 once in a while with 82 F. average most of July and August.

 

If the top is cut off in summer, there can be sunburn damage to top tissue.

 

I try to avoid hedge cutting that reduces a lot, in spring, when birds are nesting. I don't like facing having to deal with exposed nests. Just the way I think. May not matter to others ... just leave them there to bake in sun or become prey.

 

When cutting, I tilt the blades slightly each pass back and forth.

 

For the more part, hedges are my least favorite pruning and I seem to keep it to maybe 1% of my work these days, if that.

[crobinson]

not growing back only applies to leylandii and similar species. yew grows back, as does thuja. all deciduous grow back, some can be butchered like privet and laurel. bird nesting is an issue, if it's only a skim no problem, other wise you need to check. on a lawn or rough ground rake or preferably leave as mulch the clippings if customer is favourable, for borders and gravel put sheets down. aand if you look closely,, you will see where the last cut was a and within 12months cut back to that point.

 

Sorry, my bad. Your right about Yew - It's when you take the saw too it that it doesn't like it.

[kev7937]

Sorry, my bad. Your right about Yew - It's when you take the saw too it that it doesn't like it.

 

 

Wrong again I'm afraid the best way to regenerate an old yew hedge is to take it right back to the stems, no stubs or growth points, hit it hard..

[RobRainford]

Wrong again I'm afraid the best way to regenerate an old yew hedge is to take it right back to the stems, no stubs or growth points, hit it hard..

 

Indeed, saw a yew that must have been about 20' cut back to a 3' high stump, its now got 18'' of growth on it and looks like a little yew shrub. Probably 3 years of growth!

[Hodge]

Get one of these

 

 

Hodge

[Goaty]

Depending on how well maintained it is previous to your attempt.

 

If its a reduction in height job. Trim sides with hedgetrimmer, reaching to a consistent height (note your poise, arms 90 degrees or max your reach, etc) Then stand back to check its the same and level. You now have a top line to chainsaw along or hedge trim.

 

Does depend on species and state of neglect.

[miker]

always cut upwards , slow and steady and i find the longer the cutter bar the better, short bars dip in and show up on tight packed thuja and yew, take your time ,on the tops i cut with first pass then clear the top with your bar inclined 30 ish degrees and 3rd pass have cutters running

[Hodge]

Tell the customer that unless they look after it end up looking like this!!

 

 

Hodge

[mendiplogs]

Get one of these[ATTACH]161843[/ATTACH]

 

 

Hodge

 

HI HODGE that makes me :lol::lol:mate thanks jon

[Gardenmac]

Two things I use are a snow shovel n large plastic grass rake for picking up. If the client doesn't want to pay to dispose and if it will fit in the green bin I use the mulch mower to reduce the cuttings down to nowt to fit in the bin.

Tarps are a time saver.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Gardenmac