If a thuja hedge has been in the garden for a long time, it can sometimes become very wide and take up too much space - especially if it has not been trimmed for a long time. What can you do if the thuja hedge has simply become too wide?
How do I cut back a Thuja hedge that is too wide?
To cut back a Thuja hedge that is too wide, shorten the side shoots evenly and be careful not to cut behind the greenery or into the old wood. It is recommended to spread the pruning over several years and to make the hedge wider at the bottom than at the top.
What to do if the thuja hedge is too wide?
Thuja hedges can be grown as desired. Whether you want a very narrow or slightly wider hedge is a question of space and taste.
If the hedge of life has simply become too wide, you can cut it back. The tree of life tolerates pruning very well. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Thuja hedge how far to cut back?
- Don't cut behind the green
- never cut into old wood
- wider at the bottom than at the top
- Spread pruning over several years
- use cloudy, dry day
Every very severe pruning weakens the tree of life. For very wide hedges, it may therefore be advisable to extend the pruning over several years.
Cut the thuja evenly on both sides to the desired width by shortening the side shoots. You should remove cross-growing shoots straight away so that the air can circulate better.
Choose a cutting shape in which the thuja is narrower at the top than at the bottom. This not only prevents snow breakage, but also ensures that the tree of life gets more light and doesn't turn brown inside as quickly.
The best time to cut
Such a radical pruning should only be carried out in spring, before the breeding and setting season begins. You can cut until the end of February, or in the fall after September if necessary.
A cloudy day is good so that the tree of life does not turn brown at the interfaces. The hedge should also be dry to prevent fungal infestation.
After cutting, water the hedge well and provide it with fertilizer (€39.00 on Amazon).
Never cut behind the green
When cutting back the thuja, you must ensure that you never shorten branches behind the green shoots. This leaves very unsightly bald spots that only grow over again after years.
Under no circumstances should you cut a thuja hedge back into the old wood, as the tree of life will not sprout there again.
Tip
If an old thuja hedge has not been cut for a long time, it sometimes makes sense to remove it completely and replant it. Pruning too much weakens the tree of life.
