"smileygonzo1961" wrote in message
...
hi guys,

ou new garden has a beech hedge and I wondered whether I could cut it with
a
hedge cutter or do I need to prune it by hand using shears? are there any
benefits/disadvantes cutter vs. shears?

I don't want to try the cutter if it will damage the hedge.......

any ideas anyone.

many thanx,
smileygonzo1961

I used to use a hedge cutter on my 200ft beech hedge, but have since found
that using secateurs I can 'prune' branches to up or sideways pointing buds,
thus thickening up the hedge.

BTW It's best to leave pruning until the hedge is dormant, although I find
that pruning in the depths of winter, removes a lot of the brown leaves, so
I tend to leave until spring.

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk