The 31^st of August marks the end of the meteorological summer and the main breeding season for nesting birds – time to get to some hedge cutting.

Nesting birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, preventing the disturbance of active nests.

While many of our feathered friends will have flown the nest by this point, it’s not a case of every bird packing up and departing at the end of the month. Some may nest out with the breeding season months of March to August, so prior to the commencement of any hedge cutting we’ll carry out a careful check for any lingering wild birds.

Now that the coast is clear to get the hedge trimmers into action it’s time to reap the benefits of cutting back hedge vegetation during the winter. The timing of pruning may however depend on the variety of hedge.

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Health and safety

Top of most facility manager’s agenda, health and safety is a prime consideration when it comes to landscape maintenance. The potential for complaints due to scratches to pedestrians or parked cars can be easily avoided by proactively scheduling a hedge trim where the vegetation has a potential to encroach on a car park, paths or seating areas for example. A ‘heavy’ prune, reducing the width of a hedge or the overhead canopy, can also reduce the likelihood of grime collecting on paths and in car parks, which can present slip hazards.

Looking good

A neatly coiffured hedge will contribute to a tidy and attractive exterior environment and demonstrate a level of pride and attention to detail to both your customers and staff alike. During the summer months growth can be significant with hedgerows becoming wild and unruly. A good taming to lick your green borders into shape won’t go unnoticed.

Let there be light

Overgrown trees and hedges can severely restrict light into buildings and overshadow other areas of vegetation. An annual trim to reduce canopies or hedge heights can allow the light to flow into affected office windows, especially important as daylight hours reduce and we want to capture as much natural light as possible.

Property damage

Falling leaves can be a major bugbear in the autumn, collecting in gutters and drains, leading to blockages and flooding, not to mention creating slip hazards. Proactively cutting back canopies now will help to reduce leaf drop later in the season, allowing water to run freely through drains during the heavy showers we are more commonly experiencing. Overgrown hedges can also cause damage to fences or buildings if they are permitted to ‘go wild’. A good hedge maintenance regime will help to avoid expensive repairs which may result form excessive growth.

Hedge health

Uncontrolled growth can actually stint the overall vitality of the hedge by reducing the volume of light and moisture penetrating the plants. Removing unnecessary branches will stimulate growth and allow the hedge to flourish and maintain good health for years to come. Pruning can also uncover any areas of a diseased plant which might otherwise go unnoticed. Caught early, diseased branches can be removed and plant health saved.

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Pest control

Hedges and branches near ground level create great hiding places for rodents and pests. Rats, for example, like to live in thick vegetation on the ground, so it’s advisable to eliminate any potential hiding places if they are likely to look for a feeding and nesting spot on your grounds.

For more information or to request a quote for a hedge trim or tree reduction please contact us on 0808 100 3120 or at enquires@gpplantscape.com.