[snip]
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.

I've also read that when you want to reduce the height of a hedge, you cut
back to about one foot lower that you want, which allows the bush to grow
naturally up to your preferred height rather than just looking hacked off.
This presumably applies more to a "thorough overhaul" than a regular trim!
I imagine similar applies to cutting a hedge back too.

Paul DS.

"smileygonzo1961" wrote in
:

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.......

I use my electric hedgecutter on mine, and very much doubt that it can
detect the difference in power source!

Victoria
--
gardening on a north-facing hill
in South-East Cornwall
--

"smileygonzo1961" wrote in
:

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.......

I use my electric hedgecutter on mine, and very much doubt that it can
detect the difference in power source!

Victoria
--
gardening on a north-facing hill
in South-East Cornwall
--

In article , Sacha
writes
On 29/7/04 16:08, in article ,
"smileygonzo1961" wrote:

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.......


I'll admit straight away that I've never trimmed a beech hedge but imagine
all those many, many yards of them in some houses. I doubt most seriously
that they use shears in all cases

I don't see there'd be any difference between shears and hedge trimmer.
Both chop indiscriminately. The only difference I can see would be
between that and the controlled cutting with secateurs.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

In article , Sacha
writes
On 29/7/04 16:08, in article ,
"smileygonzo1961" wrote:

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.......


I'll admit straight away that I've never trimmed a beech hedge but imagine
all those many, many yards of them in some houses. I doubt most seriously
that they use shears in all cases

I don't see there'd be any difference between shears and hedge trimmer.
Both chop indiscriminately. The only difference I can see would be
between that and the controlled cutting with secateurs.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

It'll be fine... As long as the hedge you are cutting isnt overly thick and the cutter is a good one and not tearing the plant too much. We use petrol hedgecutters for beech hedges often check out my site - www.newgenlandscapes.co.uk we do allsorts!

Hi I am new to this forum and very much a learner when it comes to gardening.

We have a beech hedge running down the side of our property and one at the front. The one at the front has got a "bit" out of control and needs a thorough cut back - I would like to take at least a foot off the width - cutting the south facing side back, plus a good couple of feet from the top. What time of year should I do this?

Regards

Richard

We had a 70 ft. beech hedge at our previous house and the old man attacked it with an electric hedge trimmer several times a year. The people on the other side went at it with shears, but there was no difference in the finished result. I think it's important to chop back vertical shoots quite regularly, otherwise the leaders get rather thick and are hard to cut back. Whatever, it's infinitely preferable to privet and looks great when brown in the winter.