Because the flowers in your beds retreat in winter, you can devote your full attention to your hedge. In order for it to turn green in all its splendor with the first rays of the sun, pruning is recommended in the cold season. Nevertheless, you have to pay attention to a few things. You can find out how to trim your hedge in winter here.
Hedges should not be cut when the temperature is below zero
Don't wait too long
The right timing is the be-all and end-all when trimming a hedge. If you choose the wrong time, you may do more damage than good to your trees. Plants also go through a dormant phase in winter, during which they largely stop growing. We therefore recommend cutting hedges in winter
- the late autumn before the first frost
- or the first mild days after the last frost
In both cases you must not wait too long.
Trim the hedge at the beginning of winter
From mid-October to November there are good weather conditions for trimming the hedge. Now the sky is mostly cloudy, your trees are not in danger of drying out. Remember that every cut is an injury that is very sensitive to sunlight. The opposite, i.e. massive cold and frost, also has a negative effect on the development of your plants. In particular, bushes such as the boxwood that sprout again after a hedge is cut are at risk. Therefore, do not put off trimming the hedge, but use a still mild, cloudy autumn day.
Cut hedge when spring comes
It is inevitable that some branches will die off in winter. When the thermometer starts to rise again at the beginning of February, it is high time to remove brown branches to give your hedge a neat appearance. With a radical pruning you bring the trees back into shape. Now is the best time for this, as your hedge has not yet fully awakened from its "hibernation" and you do not injure too many young shoots. You should only wait for early bloomers, as they are only cut after the first bloom. But then only a shape cut is possible, since the law only allows a radical cut until the end of February. Your hedge is a popular place for birds to build their nests, especially in spring. If you violate the protective measure, you must expect a fine.