Trim a hedge safely with an electric trimmer, checking for protected trees, nesting birds and neighbour boundaries before you start.
HT-01Check if the hedge is protectedAsk your council whether the hedge or any tree in it is covered by a Tree Preservation Order, or stands inside a conservation area. Working on a tree with a Tree Preservation Order without the council's consent is a criminal offence, and so is working on a tree in a conservation area without giving the council six weeks' written notice first, even for light trimming of branches it contains. If you're not sure, read HomeGraft's guide 'Can I cut down or prune a tree with a tree preservation order?' before you touch anything.
RULESKNOW THE RULES
TPO trees need the council's consent, and trees in a conservation area need six weeks' written notice first. Skipping either is a criminal offence. Always check with your council first.
HT-02Check for nesting birdsWalk the full length of the hedge and look carefully into the thicker growth for nests. The main nesting season runs roughly March to August, and it's best to avoid cutting at all during this time if you can. It's an offence to damage or destroy an active nest, so if you find one, leave that section alone until the chicks have fledged.
RULESKNOW THE RULES
It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to damage or destroy an active bird's nest. Check thoroughly before cutting, especially March to August.
HT-03Gather tools and set up the power supplyPut on safety glasses, gloves and ear defenders. Plug the hedge trimmer into an outdoor extension lead protected by an RCD, or use a socket that already has RCD protection, and check the lead and trimmer for any cuts or damage before switching on. Keep the lead looped over your shoulder as you work so it stays well away from the blades.
1 each · Electric hedge trimmer 1 each · Outdoor extension lead with RCD plug 1 pair · Gardening gloves HT-04Check the boundary if it's a shared or neighbour's hedgeIf the hedge sits on or near the boundary, work out which side is yours. You can cut overhanging branches back to the boundary line from your own side, but you must not kill the tree or hedge and you must not go onto the neighbour's land without asking first. Offer the cuttings back to the neighbour, since they technically belong to them. If the whole hedge is on the neighbour's side and it's blocking light, that's a different problem — see HomeGraft's guide on high hedge rules.
RULESKNOW THE RULES
You may cut overhanging branches back to the boundary from your own side without the owner's permission, but you can't enter their land without consent, and cuttings should be offered back.
HT-05Protect the ground and clear the areaLay a tarpaulin or dust sheet along the base of the hedge to catch cuttings and make clean-up easier. Move anything underneath, like plant pots or furniture, out of the way. Check the ground either side is firm and level, since you'll need solid footing throughout.
1 each · Tarpaulin or dust sheet HT-06Trim the sidesHold the trimmer with both hands and work in upward sweeping strokes, following the natural shape of the hedge. Start at the base and work up, keeping the blade parallel to the face of the hedge. Trim a little at a time rather than forcing it through thick growth in one pass.
HT-07Trim the topOnly trim what you can reach comfortably from the ground or a stable hedge-cutting platform — never a ladder. Anything taller than about head height to the top of the cut, any branch thicker than your forearm, or anything near power lines, a building or a road is a job for a tree surgeon, not hand tools. Use a string line between two canes as a height guide if you want a level finish.
HT-08Deal with any thicker branchesFor stray branches too thick for the trimmer but still within reach of a forearm's thickness, use loppers or a hand pruning saw instead of forcing the trimmer through them. Never use a chainsaw, and never cut anything while standing on a ladder. If a branch is thicker than your forearm or out of safe reach, leave it and call a tree surgeon.
1 each · Hand pruning saw HT-09Clear up the cuttingsSwitch off and unplug the trimmer before clearing up. Gather the cuttings from the tarpaulin and compost them or bag them for green waste collection. If any cuttings came from a neighbour's hedge, offer them back before disposing of them yourself.
2 each · Garden waste bags HT-10Clean and store the trimmerWith the trimmer unplugged, wipe sap and debris off the blades with a cloth, then apply a light coat of machine oil to prevent rust. Coil the extension lead loosely and check it for damage before putting it away. Store the trimmer out of reach of children with the blade guard fitted.
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