Here’s our weekend… Partially entertaining at first then busy with a chainsaw on top of the hedge.
Here’s what I like to listen to whilst sitting on top of the cut off trunk 😉 …
Not a huge but quite overgrown leylandii hedge with narrow access to the back garden.
Hedge reduction and trim on both sides and top.
2 trailers worth of green waste.. there was a bit of a surprise when we started picking up cut,dead branches from inside it..
Turned out whoever trimmed that hedge in the past had tucked all the branches in the crown, so we had like double ther amount of waste to dispose off.
Nevertheless job done, client happy, even very happy..
Summer’s over but weather’s still very good and we’re certainly not slowing down!
In this garden we have:
Tidied up the borders, removed all the vegetation, roots, debris and old membrane. Layed down a new weed membrane and filled up these borders with beautiful white Cotswold stones.
Cut the hedges
Put up a new fence
All done in my favourite neighbourhood – Lower Earley / Reading.
Do you want to make sure your hedge is cut as it should be? Book a hedge cutting specialist @ Tidy Gardens
One simple thing when maintening your hedges as I mentioned some time earlier is a regular cut, but make sure you do it right !
It ain’t a rocket science, but so many people make that mistake.
Don’t cut your hedge in a reversed pyramid shape ! never.
Instead make a slight pyramid shape. That means cutting your hedge in a way that makes the bottom of it slightly wider than the top.
That will allow plenty of sun to get both to bottom and top of your hedge, making it all grow well from top to bottom.
Simples, right ? 😉
It was hot today, I did not take “before photos” sorry.
Here’s a couple of after photos.
Over the last few days we had great fun with some hedges. All of them overgrown and all of them conifers. Grow like mad so most probably leylandii hedges. 3 tall leylandii hedge reductions this week! How lucky we are 😮
Hedge reduction after photos below. Look at the amount of green waste these lovely plants deliver!
When it comes to hedge maintenance, regular hedge cutting / trimming is the single most important thing to do. Regular hedge trim will make your hedge compact and thick right from the bottom.
Why plant a hedge?
Hedge can be a perfect garden boundary, but the wrong one may give you troubles.
hedges provide shelter.
They dumpen noises, reduce strong winds
The obvious they give you privacy.
security but not all hedges. Thorny, prickly varieties like for example:
Common holly
Firethorn
Blackthorn
Barberry
Buckthorn
some hedging plants like photinia give you a beautiful seasonal change.
hedge supports wildlife. Birds love nesting in them as well as eating some berries.
unlike wooden fences, hedges won’t need replacing for many many years and they don’t require anything more than regular hedge cutting.
I can’t stress that too much.
Hedges need your commitment to regular hedge cutting / trimming.
All types of hedging need at least one hedge cut a year. Some varieties more than one.
A regular light prune is much better for you and your hedge then an occasional heavy cut.
Power tools do a quick job if done regularly. High and overgrown hedges often need costly specialist equipment or professional help
to get them back into shape.
You can avoid a lot of problems in future if you choose the right hedging plants for your boundary.
Hedge planting – the right choice.
The many benefits of growing hedges on your boundary depend on selecting the right plants for the situation. If you choose an unsuitable variety you could be faced with a range of problems, especially if the hedge grows too big. It will be difficult to trim and may cut out light to your garden or house.
Its roots could deprive other plants of water and nutrients, and even interfere with paths and buildings.
Oversize hedges will intrude on your garden space, and may cause problems with neighbours.
Oversize hedges can be costly and time consuming to cut back and most conifers, including Leyland and Lawson’s cypress, will not tolerate hard pruning.
If the hedge borders a road or path the local authority could get involved, and insist the hedge is cut back.
Luckily there is a wide range of plants available so it’s not difficult to achieve an attractive healthy hedge – one which will take only as much upkeep as you can manage, and create an attractive feature in your neighbourhood, not a bone of contention.
Growth rate
hedge cutting – how often
Size if unpruned
Foliage
Prickly?
Beech
xxx
Once
Large tree
D/LL
No
Berberis
xx
Once
Large shrub
E
Yes
Cherry laurel
xx
Once
Large shrub
E
No
Cotoneaster
xx
Once
Large shrub
E
No
Escallonia
xx
Twice
Large shrub
E
No
Firethorn
xx
Twice
Large shrub
E
Yes
Hawthorn
xxx
Twice
Small tree
D
Yes
Hazel
xxx
Once
Small tree
D
No
Holly
x
Once
Small tree
E
Yes
Hornbeam
xx
Once
Large tree
D/LL
No
Lawsons cypress
xx
Twice
Large tree
E Conifer
No
Leyland cypress
xxx
Twice
Large tree
E Conifer
No
Portugal laurel
x
Once
Large shrub
E
No
Privet
xx
Three
Large shrub
E
No
Rose
xx
Once
Large shrub
D
Yes
Western red cedar
xx
Twice
Large tree
E Conifer
No
Yew
x
Once
Large tree
E Conifer
No
Key:
Growth rate, for established plants
xxx – over 60cm/year
xx – 30-60cm/year
x – 15-30cm/year
Foliage:
D – deciduous
LL – dead leaves held in winter
E – evergreen
My favourite hedging plant has to be YEW ( taxus )
Classic choice but everlasting and makes an excellent hedge. Doesnt need that much hedge cutting either.
Tidy Gardens can trim/prune most of hedges, but if you are that lucky and have spectacular yew like on a picture above then DON’T call us. Call for a crane ! 🙂
Steve June 2021
Paul provides an excellent service he is knowledgeable and tidies up after himself. Thoroughly recommended
SteveLower Earley
Excellent fortnightly service
We have used Tidy Gardens for fortnightly grass cutting and general garden maintenance, for well over a year now.
They are reliable and ready to advise on all aspects required. Highly recommended.
Heather NicholsonLower Earley
Garden clearance and regular maintenance I discovered Paul only through his website and the many wonderful testimonials he has. Paul and his colleague came by to our house for a full garden clearance. We have a very large garden (front and back), and they worked tirelessly for over 5 hours. The garden is now beautiful, clean and tidy! Paul also seems to have extensive knowledge about plants, which is great! We have now booked Paul for our regular garden maintenance as well 🙂
Karthika VReading
John October 2019
We asked Paul of Tidy Gardens to carry our some lawn levelling and turfing work following construction of a new patio. All work was carried out in a professional but friendly manner and to our satisfaction. We are very pleased with the result and would recommend the team to other clients.
JohnSonning
Garden Tidy Up in Woodley. August 2014 I contacted Paul as my garden needed a good clean up. He was very efficient in responding to my emails, coming round to cost out the work and in getting the job done.
I would use Paul again and recommend him to anyone and everyone.
Jaina DesaiWoodley
Benny April 2023, Lower Earley, Reading
Really impressed and happy with the very professional work Paul and David did at my back garden. The before and after look is simply incredible. They worked non-stop from arrival to the property until they left! Very highly recommended. Thank you!
BennyLower Earley
Hard work and expertise My garden had become quite overgrown and I was looking for a gardening team who have all the powertools, and can take the waste away, and who also know their plants. Paul and team were the only ones I found who could do this and they did a wonderful job.
My paths have been cleaned, stumps ground, borders cleared of weeds and ivy and everything has been pruned.
Paul had some excellent ideas for other things we could do to improve the garden which I am sure I will take him up on very soon.
Caroline LArborfield
A Reliable Professional Service
This company has worked alongside ours in delivering an exceptional Grounds Maintenance service in difficult circumstances on a housing estate in Reading.
Over a period of a year the team have systematically improved the environment by making suggestions to our client and fulfilling them when approved.
They have regularly and efficiently attended the site and took ownership of their work whilst building a relationship with the key personnel involved.
I would like to thank them for their co… Read more
Paul DolmanGould landscapesReading
Tony Lawrence August 2019
Our very large, long, and overgrown hedge, was cut and re-shaped and by Paul and his partner exactly as promised. So hard-working and easy to deal with. Great job!!
Highly Recommended!!
Tony LawrenceWoodley
Reliable honest work !! I have used Paul’s professional services three times now for fencing, fence repairs and the laying of stepping stones.
I will be honest, I could have done all these jobs myself, but I simply value my free time to do other things.
I can only have Paul do these jobs for me because he is real value for money. His quotes are always honest and competitive.
He will always discuss your requirements and provide alternatives solutions if you want them.
He just turns up and gets on with the jo… Read more
Fencing work in Woodley. May 2014 Paul and his team recently replaced the fencing in both my own and a couple of neighbouring gardens. the work was carried out efficiently with attention to detail and at a competitive price. They ensured that the entire garden was tidy before finishing. I would recommend them without hesitation.
PaulWoodley
Liz ONeill June 2024,
Great job done ! From start to finish Paul delivered a fantastic hedge cutting service which now shows my garden looking amazing. My hedges have never looked so good and my garden was left looking absolutely immaculate.
Liz ONeillWinnersh RG41
Excellent quality, efficient and conciencous TidyGardens came in to fell 5 mid sized conifers, install a section of high quality trellis (supplied by them), and to do a general clean up and tidy of what was a quite messy front and back garden that we inherited from the previous owners.
The work was carried out very quickly, to a very high standard, and always in consultation with us, to ensure that we were happy as the work progressed.
All in all, I can highly recommend TG; they are very hard working, conscientious and very keen to e… Read more
John GLower Earley
Garden tidy-up - July 2014 On the hottest day of the year so far, Paul and his team worked non-stop to tidy our front and back gardens, which had been neglected for a while.They did a first-class job and I am very happy with the result. I would highly recommend Tidy Gardens.
JBReading
Major garden tidy up - Hurst. July 2014 Paul carried out a major tidy of my garden.
His work ethics and quality of finish was exemplary.
Held up to his word of finishing the work to my expectations. Even though it took longer to complete he was honourable to his original quote
Naresh TakyarHurst
Professional, personable, good quality work Paul carried out some work on my property today. It was a relatively small job (extending a path using paving stones) which took him and his colleague about a day to complete. He and his colleague turned up on time and then proceeded to carry out the work as agreed. The quality of work was excellent and he kept me informed to what he was doing, to ensure that the work was being done to my satisfaction. After completion he tidied up and left the premises neat and tidy. I would not hesitate to con… Read more
Ayaz KhanReading
CHRIS - June 2019 Paul and his colleague came to my father’s garden to carry out a big tidy up. They are very hardworking and did a great job cutting back a very overgrown hedge, tidying borders, mowing and clearing away all the waste afterwards.
Also great communication, emails and text answered promptly too
CHRIS - June 2019Earley, Reading
Unusual garden service Paul provides an unusual service – he knows what he’s doing! He can identify and name most plants, especially the difference between weeds and perennials unlike several of his competitors in the area.
Added to that knowledge Paul and Radek provided a good service and created a very tidy garden in a few hours. Recommended.
John ConnorReading
May - 2019. Mick Pollek Awesome effort. Excellent work with great attention to detail
Mick PollekTidyGardensCaversham
Exceeds expectations I was the estate manager for a well-known spa hotel with extensive grounds, and can honestly say that I wish I had access to the Tidy Gardens team back then. Paul is knowledgeable and extremely hard-working, and unusually, exceeds expectations on a regular basis. I wholeheartedly recommend Tidy Gardens for whatever jobs you need doing in your garden.