When should hawthorn hedges be cut?

When should hawthorn hedges be cut?

Most deciduous hedges could almost be clipped at any time of year, avoiding frozen conditions of course. Evergreen hedges usually respond best if cut during the growing season in spring or summer, in fact they can suffer damage if clipped in the autumn.

How do you reduce the height of a hawthorn hedge?

Reduce the height by up to one-third in April. Thin out the side branches, removing selected branches right back to the trunk but leaving the others intact. This will allow more light and air into the area around the hedge. Mulch and feed in spring to encourage vigorous re-growth.

Can hawthorn be cut back hard?

The hawthorn tree requires only light pruning as it tends to form a strong framework naturally. Harder pruning will have a negative effect on a hawthorn tree and so should be avoided.

Is Hawthorn a good hedge?

Crataegus monogyna is a very fast-growing shrub, achieving around 40 – 60cm growth per year, which explains the name Quickthorn! Hawthorn hedging is suitable for heights between 1 – 5m, making it a great boundary hedge.

Why is my hawthorn hedge dying?

Hedging such as Cotoneaster, Hawthorn and Photinia can be affected. This disease is of minor importance as it is often too cold at blossom time for it to spread effectively. The disease most often enters a plant through the blossoms in spring, causing them to wilt and die, remove blossoms if you suspect infection.

Can I cut Indian hawthorn to the ground?

If the Indian hawthorn has outgrown the space in which it was planted, you can reduce its size by heading back and thinning. The shape of the plant can be influenced by cutting to inward or outward facing buds or branches.

How can I make my hedges Fuller?

Trim the shrub annually after the third pruning to remove any dead, broken or diseased branches. Remove one-quarter to one-third of the branches each year to encourage thick, healthy interior growth. Cut back any branches that extend past the desired perimeter of the shrub.

How do you look after a hawthorn hedge?

To prune your Hawthorn into a tree, simply remove the lower branches with a sharp pruning saw to reveal a single trunk. During the second year of planting, between February and March, is the recommended time for hard pruning Hawthorn hedges. Cut back growth by half during these months to encourage new growth.

Are hawthorn bushes fast-growing?

Hawthorn hedging is wonderful for wildlife, supporting over 150 species of insects and a host of native birds. As it grows quickly – between 40-60cm per year – it should be trimmed after flowering, or during the autumn, but you must check for nesting birds before doing so.

How big of a Saw do I need to trim a hawthorn tree?

Hawthorn hedge pruning requires sharp tools and protective clothing as the thorns that grow along the branches can reach around 3 inches long. To trim a Hawthorn effectively you will need a pruning saw to remove branches over 3 cm in diameter, loppers for branches up to 2.5 cm and clippers for smaller branches reaching around 0.6cm in diameter.

When to cut back a hawthorn hedge in the UK?

Cut the Hawthorn “whips” or seedlings down by half at planting which will be between November and March. Allow the hedge to grow for one year and that winter prune again. Remove all the new growth back 50 per cent. Do this in winter because each dormant bud will produce numerous shoots in spring.

When is the best time to prune a hawthorn tree?

To prune your Hawthorn into a tree, simply remove the lower branches with a sharp pruning saw to reveal a single trunk. During the second year of planting, between February and March, is the recommended time for hard pruning Hawthorn hedges. Cut back growth by half during these months to encourage new growth.

What are the benefits of a hawthorn hedge?

The berries produced by the Hawthorn hedge provide food for wildlife in the winter months and dense branches create ideal nesting spots for birds, insects and mammals. Large thorns also keep grazing animals at bay, protecting the hedging and smaller wildlife nesting within its branches.