Hedge trimming and protecting birds

Hedges and bushes can be trimmed throughout the year to trim growth, keep them in shape and looking neat, but you need to keep in the mind the right time of year to complete this task for a very important reason…

This article explains the best time to reduce hedge and bush height (hard cut) and why.

Your hard cutting window.

Any reputable grounds maintenance company will tell you that the best time to reduce hedge and bush height is between September and the end of February.

You might be thinking that hard cutting could be done any time and why such a time frame exists? The answer to this is to protect nesting birds!

Nesting season

Nesting season for hedge nesting birds in the UK begins in February and ends roughly at the end of August. Hedge trimming or hard cutting during this time can have devastating consequences on both hedge nesting birds and their nests.

For example, if a hedge trimmer were to accidentally cut through a branch where there are nesting birds, they would most likely abandon their nest and not lay another egg.

This can have a direct impact on the breeding numbers of nesting birds. With species numbers dwindling, hard cutting at the correct time of year will go a long way to protect this type of wildlife.

Maintenance

You can still lightly maintain your hedges and bushes throughout the whole year to keep your outdoor space looking its best.

This will ensure hedge nesting birds can get on with their breeding cycle without any issues.

If you are looking for a professional and environmentally friendly grounds maintenance team please contact us today! We are more than happy to help with all of your hedge trimming needs and hard cutting when the time comes.

For more information about protecting our hedgerow birds please visit the RSPB

Thank you for reading.