[SusieB]

I haven't got the time to do everything done that needs doing. 

I have a very overgrown holly and laurel hedge, that I'm really looking forward to cutting right back.  Can I do this over winter?

I have large areas of couch grass to clear, will this be possible over the winter or will the weather make it impossible?

Many thanks

[Springlands]

Holly should be pruned in late summer - you could do more harm that good by doing it in winter especially if it turns out to be a hard winter like 2012/13. For laurels they are best pruned in late spring to early summer. You could however cut out any diseased material.

Regarding the couch grass - you should be able to clear this by hand over the winter provided the soil was not too wet or frosty - you can ruin the structure of your soil by working on it during bad weather. Most weed killers need active growth to work so would not be effective during cold weather.


Modified to add spring in second line of first paragraph

[SusieB]

Thank you, very helpful.  Holly now, laurel next spring and couch grass if there's not too bad weather.