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Pruning Advice for Formal Hedging

Formal hedges must be clipped regularly in order to maintain their neat shape. If carried out at the right time, pruning will also prevent fruits and berries from developing.

The following table offers some advice on when to prune a range of deciduous and evergreen hedging, including formative pruning information for the hedge's first two seasons and subsequent maintenance pruning.

Hedging Plant	Initial Pruning	Maintenance
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)	On planting, cut back leading shoots and sideshoots by one-third. Repeat the following winter.	June (or after flowering). Repeat in August.
Box (Buxus sempervirens)	On planting, cut back leading shoots and sideshoots by one-third. Repeat the following year.	Cut back top-growth and laterals every 4-6 weeks during May to September.
Hawthorn (Cratoegus monogyna)	On planting, cut back to to 15 cm (6 in). The following spring, cut back growth by half. Trim laterals in summer. Cut back leading shoots in autumn to the correct height.	Cut back top-growth and laterals every 4-6 weeks during May to September.
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)	On planting, cut back leading shoots and sideshoots by one-third. Repeat the following winter.	June (or after flowering). Repeat in August.
Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)	On planting, lightly cut back straggly side-shoots. Trim laterals the following summer and tie-in the leader to a support as it develops.	Prune 1-3 times during June to August.
Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii)	On planting, lightly cut back straggly side-shoots. Trim laterals the following summer and tie-in the leader to a support as it develops.	Prune 1-3 times during June to August.
Privet (Ligustrum)	On planting, cut back to to 15 cm (6 in). The following spring, cut back growth by half. Trim laterals in summer. Cut back leading shoots in autumn to the correct height.	Cut back top-growth and laterals every 4-6 weeks during May to September.
Shrubby honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida)	On planting, cut back leading shoots and sideshoots by one-third. Repeat the following winter.	Cut back top-growth and laterals every 4-6 weeks during May to September.
Yew (Taxus baccata)	On planting, lightly cut back straggly side-shoots. Trim laterals the following summer and tie-in the leader to a support as it develops.	Prune 1-3 times during June to August.

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