Trim a garden hedge safely and neatly with hand shears, checking for tree orders, nests and boundaries first.
AB-01Check if the hedge or tree is protectedRing your council and ask whether the hedge, or any tree in it, has a Tree Preservation Order or sits in 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. See HomeGraft's guide 'Can I cut down or prune a tree with a tree preservation order?' before you touch anything.
RULESKNOW THE RULES
Trees with a Tree Preservation Order, or any tree in a conservation area, are protected by law. Cutting a TPO tree without council consent, or a conservation-area tree without six weeks' written notice, can mean prosecution and a fine.
AB-02Check for nesting birdsLook carefully through the hedge for nests before you start, parting the branches gently. The main nesting season runs roughly March to August, and it's an offence to damage or destroy an active nest. If you find one, leave that section alone and trim around it, or wait until the birds have fledged.
RULESKNOW THE RULES
It's an offence under UK wildlife law to damage or destroy a wild bird's active nest. Avoid hedge cutting in the main nesting season if you can.
AB-03Check what you can safely reach and cutThis job is for hand shears only — no chainsaws, and never cut while standing on a ladder. Anything taller than about head height, any branch as thick as your forearm, or anything near power lines, a building or a road is a job for a tree surgeon. If the hedge is within reach from the ground, you're good to go.
1 each · Hand hedge shears 1 pair · Stout gardening gloves AB-04Lay down a sheet to catch clippingsSpread a tarpaulin or old dust sheet along the base of the hedge on your side. This saves a lot of raking later and keeps clippings off the lawn and path. If the hedge is on a boundary, keep the sheet on your own side only.
1 each · Tarpaulin or dust sheet AB-05Set a guide line for a level topPush a cane in at each end of the hedge and tie a length of string between them at the height you want the top to finish. This gives you a straight line to cut to, rather than guessing by eye. For long hedges, add a middle cane so the string doesn't sag.
AB-06Cut the sides firstWork from the bottom up, holding the shears flat to the face of the hedge and cutting with a sweeping action. Aim for the base to be very slightly wider than the top — this 'batter' shape lets light reach the lower branches so the hedge stays leafy all the way down. Stand back every so often to check you're cutting evenly.
AB-07Cut the top levelCut along the string line in short, overlapping strokes, working in sections rather than trying to do the whole length in one sweep. Keep the shears horizontal and check your line from a few steps back as you go.
AB-08Deal with any growth over the boundaryYou can cut branches overhanging from a neighbour's tree or hedge back to the boundary line from your own side, without harming the rest of the plant, but you can't go onto their land without permission. Offer the cuttings back to your neighbour — legally they're still theirs. If it's your neighbour's hedge causing a problem rather than your own, see HomeGraft's guide on high hedge rules instead.
RULESKNOW THE RULES
You may trim overhanging branches back to the boundary from your own property, but the cuttings remain the neighbour's and trespassing onto their land to cut or collect is not allowed.
AB-09Rake up and dispose of the clippingsGather the clippings from the sheet and any strays from the lawn with a rake. Compost soft green clippings if you have a heap, or bag them for your council's garden waste collection. Woody offcuts can usually go in with garden waste too, cut down to fit the bag or bin.
2 each · Garden waste bags AB-10Clean and oil the shearsWipe the blades clean of sap and dirt with a dry cloth, then wipe over with a little light oil to stop rust. Store the shears somewhere dry, blades closed or guarded. A few minutes here keeps them cutting cleanly next time.
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