[littleorchard]

Just got a new house with a rather tall and wide privet hedge on the front. Can anyone tell me the best time to thin it out? And can i chop as much as i like or should i only do a certain amount at a time for fear of killing it off!  :oops:

[muntjac]

knock it back 50% now .use a line across the whole length to get it level .and use loppers to cut the big stuff.this will leave a bare top but eventually 3// 4 yrs it will cover over itself ... cut the sides if you can from the back side so you dont see the scarring . then do the front to about 5 inches back . you can keep it this way in future by clipping every year in may and also august , feeding growmore in the base and raking it in helps reinvigorate the cut growth  

[Bernard]

Chop it as much as you like at any time. It will grow again. I have done it many times.

The thicker the wood is, the farther back you should cut it, to give it room to develop more twiggy growth.