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Hedgecutting

BouleverseeBouleversee Posts: 68
in Tools and techniques
I had my hedges cut at vast expense some weeks ago and afterwards noticed that the top of one of the cupressus hedges didn't look as though it had been cut at all.  I think leaves had piled up on it, squashing the new shoots down, but when they blew off they sprang up again.  I asked the hedger to come back and do it but he was too lazy to put steps or a ladder up so, although the front looks OK from the ground now, I can see when I go upstairs that he has not gone all the way over and longish bits are sticking up.  Is it too late to cut it now, provided the weather is relatively mild (eg 10 degrees as expected tomorrow). I now have someone else who has offered to do it but I am worried that we might have missed the boat weather-wise and don't want to risk killing it.

Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    It should be fine to cut it now. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • BouleverseeBouleversee Posts: 68
    Thanks, Hogweed.  The hedge cutter had told me one shouldn't cut Leylandii after Autumn but I'm happy to take your word for it.  (There's another saying- Look before you leap - so thought it worth asking!)
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    You are only going to trim the lanky bits on the top - if you were to think of giving it a good trim all over, that would be a different story but again, leylandii are as tough as old boots! 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    hogweed said:
    You are only going to trim the lanky bits on the top - if you were to think of giving it a good trim all over, that would be a different story but again, leylandii are as tough as old boots! 
    Alas!
  • BouleverseeBouleversee Posts: 68
    Papi Jo said:
    hogweed said:
    You are only going to trim the lanky bits on the top - if you were to think of giving it a good trim all over, that would be a different story but again, leylandii are as tough as old boots! 
    Alas!
    They are not all that tough.  If you cut back too far they go brown and never recover (not that I have ever done that) and from time to time one plant succumbs to a fungus or something and dies off completely.  My hedge is getting a bit too tall but I don't know the ins and outs of reducing it.  Suggestions for next year would be helpful.
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