Hedge Cutting
Fontwell

The appropriate time for hedge trimming in West Sussex depends on the hedge’s style and type. However, it is generally recommended to trim hedges between spring and summer when they undergo the most significant growth. Nonetheless, there are certain exceptions and factors to consider. For instance, formal evergreen hedges like box and yew are usually trimmed several times during the growing season to achieve clean lines. Informal flowering hedges such as Escallonia and Viburnum tinus are pruned immediately after flowering to stimulate additional blooms. Deciduous hedges such as hornbeam and beech are trimmed once in late summer to preserve their leaves throughout winter. Trimming hedges that harbor protected or endangered species during the nesting or breeding season (March to August) is prohibited under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Hedges that demarcate the limit of a parish, an estate, a manor, a field system, or an archaeological site may be safeguarded by law and require permission before trimming. It is also advisable to avoid trimming hedges during dry weather since this may stress the plants and cause dieback. It is preferable to trim hedges when the soil is damp and the air is humid.