[Lastcast]

I've been asked to cut an Aunts overgrown hedge, she tells me that it has been there for at least 50 years and has been cut regularly until 3 years ago. Had a look at it today and it consists of mainly a type of wild plum/damson, hawthorn and some holly. It's about 55metres in length, 2 metres high and about 2 metres across.
 A couple of questions, any suggestions as to the best time to cut it ? and How severely can it be cut back and still regrow ?

[joyfull]

When I did hedge laying we did it over winter and very severely (although there wasn't any wild plums in it), it does look quite naked when you first do it but come the spring it soon recovered.

[8doubles]

The farmers around here cut the hedges after autumn harvest'

..............normally just before the sloes you had an eye on are ready to pick !


And the so called cutters actual beat the branches to pieces which looks horrific but does no permanent harm to the hedge.

[sarajane]

I don't know anything about hedge cutting but would think Autumn would be better.

With a hedge that long there could be several birds still nesting.

[Goosegirl]

Just having my hawthorn hedges cut well back, and a local farmer has done his too. If you have sloes and damsons in there, I would wait until after harvesting them if you want their fruit. Hawthorn is very amenable to being so far back that our local farmer, who is a champion hedge-layer, almost cuts through the thick branches, then lays them sidewards intertwined with hedging stakes. It is a professional job, though. I think that wild plum , damson and holly will respond well to a good trim.

[Lastcast]

Thanks for replies, the hedge is looking a bit thin at the bottom in places so will attempt some laying,  after we've given it a cutback. As suggested I will wait until later in the year. Have a rough idea what hedgelaying involves but will have a read/view of techniques to use.

[fatcat1955]

Cut back hard on one side this year and the other side next year.

[Goosegirl]

If you want a proper job doing, see if there is a local farmer who knows someone.

[Dopey113]

Its meant to be wide at the bottom and narrower at the top, so light gets to it

[joyfull]

You may be able to find a local agricultural college running hedge laying courses. They certainly aren't a thing to tackle without tuition. There is also so many styles depending an the area you live in and also whether you have livestock to keep in or out. Also remember you lay a hedge to go up any slope not down so if the hedge has any rises and falls you may have to change direction part way along. If it is a long hedge then do not do it all at once - you need to leave cover for any wildlife to use as a corridor safe away from predators.