Hedges have the potential to get big. I’m talking really large. A hedge that goes by the name of the Meikleour Beech Hedge, found in Scotland, planted in 1745, holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest and longest hedge on earth. It earned this prestigious title by achieving a staggering 30 metres in height and 530 metres in length. Whilst your hedge won’t have been planted anywhere near this long ago or have achieved such lofty heights, it does highlight the potential for just how unruly a hedge can become and when it comes to large hedge trimming, it is not just best to get a trained arborist in for the job, it may be entirely necessary to protect your hedge, property and yourself.
The Dangers of unruly hedges
A large hedge has the potential to be a problem not only for yourself but also for neighbours or other people in your community. If not properly maintained a large hedge can begin to block light to your own or a neighbouring property. This can impact upon wellbeing, mould and even result in increased energy bills if lights need to be on to properly illuminate the house. As well as depriving light to the home it can also deprive light from other plants in your own or a neighbouring garden, affecting the growth rate and general health of other plants. If your hedge is really getting unruly then it can even begin to take out fences or crack and raise pathways, slabs and foundations. Your tolerance might be high for some of these things but your neighbour’s tolerance might not be so high and the earlier you get on top of large hedge trimming the less likely any damage to you or a neighbouring property will take place.
Benefits of a well maintained hedge
If you are concerned about the hedge itself then the best thing that you can do is call in an arborist. Just like a trip to a trained hairdresser encourages your hair to grow healthily, large hedge trimming from a trained arborist will ensure that your hedge has the right amount of light and air to thrive. Trimming and reducing your hedge encourages fresh growth, taking your hedge from scraggly to luscious. The species of the hedge will also need to be considered when timing your large hedge trimming. Deciduous hedges prefer to be cut back over winter, when they are leafless. There are options here but this is where advice from a trained arborist will ensure that the best decision is made regarding your hedge. Evergreen hedges, on the other hand, prefer to be trimmed from mid-spring onwards and throughout the summer months. This is particularly crucial if you are in an area that experiences frost, as the evergreen hedges will tend to respond better when there isn’t the threat of experiencing frost and they are actively growing.
A particularly large hedge trimming job may require to be staggered out over a significantly extended period of time. Even up to 2 or 3 years. The reason for this is that attacking the hedge in its entirety all at once may shock the plant and cause it to die. Typically it is best to work on one side and the top each year, whilst leaving one of the sides as it is. Typically by the third year you can have reduced the hedge to its ideal size and proportions. The full year between trimming allows for the tree to recover and it is also crucial that across the year the hedge is watered well to encourage new and healthy growth.
Apart from all of the facets mentioned above, large hedge trimming requires the use of a large amount of expensive and dangerous equipment. Don’t risk yourself, your hedge or your property by attempting to do this yourself. Call in the professionals and reap the benefits.
There are plenty of reasons to arrange for a professional hedge trim. If you’d like to read about the Benefits of Professional Hedge Trimming, and the professional hedge trimmers that are used, here’s a great place to start.
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