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When to prune and cut top off Conifer hedge

IHateWeedingIHateWeeding Posts: 49
in Problem solving
Have talked before about my massive Conifer hedge.  The plan is to ultimately replace with a fence as some of you have suggested.

While I save for this, I want to control it as much as possible and make full use of my Brown Bin provision this year.  Have a massive garage so can store the logs (for my stove) and clippings for quite some time and fill the bin as and when.

What's the earliest and latest part of the year when I can take a meter off the top of the hedge? 

I also want to prune back the growth on the side I didn't get around too last year.  Again what's the earliest and latest point when I can do this?  

Brown bin pickup starts in February so would like to prune before then but is January too early?  Is frost a concern?

Any help gratefully appreciated.
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Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I think l am right in saying Spring is the best time, late March/early April. Also around this time you need to keep any eye out for any nesting birds. I suppose you could start cutting back earlier if you're not too bothered about what it looks like, and to make good use of the bin! Hopefully a hedge expert  will follow along shortly  :)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    For maintenance purposes and keeping conifer hedges healthy and green they need to be trimmed twice in spring and summer but not during the bird nesting season.   More info here from the RHS - scroll down for bits specific to conifers - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=352

    However, if your intention is to ditch the hedge one day, I'd say you can cut the tops off any time between now and March as long as it isn't freezing or forecast to freeze within a few days of the chop.   If you cut the main trunks back by about 1m 10cm the cuts will be hidden by remaining greenery from lower branches.   Then you can trim the top level come March and also do the sides - early and after checking there is no nesting activity.

    When you trim the green parts, be sure to leave green bits and not cut back into brown wood as it will not re-grow foliage and you will end up with brown holes and patches.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    and remember when you're cutting the sides, if you cut back into brown wood it will never regrow, it only regrows from green growth
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Like others have said, sawing through the trunks 1m down to take the tops off can be done now - then you can dismember them into side shoots/branches for the green waste collection and logs to burn over the next several weeks.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • IHateWeedingIHateWeeding Posts: 49
    Great that's just what I wanted to know thanks for the advice everyone.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    One last thing, conifer wood needs to dry a long time before you can burn it otherwise it can be messy.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • IHateWeedingIHateWeeding Posts: 49
    I was going to store for 2 years before burning.
  • GardenmaidenGardenmaiden Posts: 1,126
    Part of my left boundary is conifer, and it is the neighbours. It hung 4ft into my garden. I cut it back to the wire fence to a height of 5.5ft because it was shading/killing plants. In amongst it was brambles and holly. Next job is to cut it down to a reasonable height as neighbours 'gardeners' don't touch it - ever. We dispose of cuttings in our brown bin or take it to the dump.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    You ought to get your neighbours consent (preferably in writing) before cutting down the height - you have no right to do so without consent if the hedge is theirs and on their land. You could end up in court if you don't.  All you are legally allowed to do is cut back your side to the boundary line.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    info 445 said:
    I was going to store for 2 years before burning.
    Not long enough for conifers IMHO, unless you've split it into very thin pieces (to give a large surface area for the sap to dry out through). I had some Leylandii logs that I stored whole for 15 years(!) and then quartered for burning - they still spat and hissed despite seeming dry! Not for use on an open fire ...
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