Because the flowers in your beds retreat in winter, you can devote all your attention to your hedge. To ensure that it turns green in all its glory with the first rays of sunshine, it is recommended to prune it back in the cold season. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. You can find out how to trim your hedge in winter here.
When should you trim a hedge in winter?
When trimming hedges in winter, late autumn before the first frost or the first mild days after the last frost are recommended. Avoid excessive sun and cold exposure and note that radical pruning is only permitted until the end of February.
Don't wait too long
The right timing is the be-all and end-all when trimming hedges. If you choose the wrong time, you may be doing more damage than good to your trees. Plants also go through a resting phase in winter, during which they largely stop growing. We therefore recommendfor hedge trimming in winter
- late autumn before the first frost
- or the first mild days after the last frost
In both cases, you shouldn't wait too long.
Cutting the hedge at the beginning of winter
From mid-October to November there are good weather conditions for pruning the hedge. Now the sky is mostly cloudy, your trees are not in danger of drying out. Remember that any cut represents an injury that is very sensitive to sunlight. The opposite, i.e. massive cold and frost, also has a negative effect on the development of your plants. Bushes such as boxwood, which sprout again after a hedge has been cut, are particularly at risk. So don't put off trimming the hedge, but instead take advantage of a still mild, cloudy autumn day.
Cutting hedges when spring comes
It is inevitable that some branches will die in winter. If the thermometer climbs back up again at the beginning of February, it is high time to remove brown branches to give your hedge a well-groomed appearance. With a radical cut you can bring the trees back into shape. Now is the best time for this, as your hedge has not yet fully awakened from its “hibernation” and you are not injuring too many young shoots. You should only wait for early bloomers, as they are only cut after the first flowering. However, then only topiary pruning is possible, as the law only allows radical pruning until the end of February. Your hedge is a popular place for birds to build nests, especially in spring. If you violate the protective measure, you will be subject to a fine.
