Hedge Trimming & Hedge Cutting in Brockham

Hedge trimming in Brockham

Boundary hedges round the green and along the lanes, cut neat, checked for nests, cleared away.

Hedge trimming in Brockham covers clipped boundaries in front of old cottages and long lane-side hedges that have been left to bulk out. Some were planted for privacy from the road and have long since overshot. On the clay that covers most of the village, a hedge can put on a surprising amount in one summer.

We plan the main cuts for September to February, outside the bird nesting season, and check for nests before any work at all. Laurel is cut by hand so the leaves don’t brown along the edges. Every cutting leaves with us.

Tall yew hedge cut flat around an arched gate

Hedge trimming in Brockham’s conservation area

Hedge cutting in Brockham’s centre comes with some history attached. The green and the cottages round it have been a conservation area since 1970. Hedges here are part of what makes the place look the way it does. We keep them at the height and line they’ve always had, cut them back off pavements and the lane, and don’t take out a boundary that frames a street. Trees growing in a hedge line are a separate matter. Work on those in a conservation area needs six weeks’ notice to the council, and it’s a job for an arborist.

When is hedge cutting season?

You can cut a garden hedge at any time of year, provided you don’t disturb an active nest. In practice we do the big cuts and reductions between September and February. A light summer trim on fast growers like privet or leylandii is fine once we’ve checked them. Beech and hornbeam are happiest with one good cut in late summer. Mixed native hedges of hawthorn and blackthorn are best left until late winter, once birds have stripped the berries.

Hedge Trimming in Brockham: your questions

Anything else, just ring. You’ll speak to the people who do the work.

What does hedge trimming cost in Brockham?

It depends on length, height, how much has to come off and whether we need to work from the road side. A neglected hedge costs more in its first year than it will on a regular schedule. We’ll measure it up and give you a fixed price.

Can you cut the road side of my hedge?

Usually, yes, as long as it’s safe to work there. We pick quieter times and keep cuttings off the road. Mention it when you ring and we’ll look at it on the quote visit.

Our leylandii has got out of hand. Can you bring the height down?

We can reduce height and width in stages over a couple of winters. Leylandii won’t regrow from bare brown wood, so we never cut back past the green. If it needs felling, that’s one for a tree surgeon.