Hedge reduction
Discussion
Busy with work and other stuff so my hedge hasn't been looked after, got someone round to price up to trim it back and reduce the height by approx 20%, just had their price in to do the job... £600!
The hedge...
I'm in West Wilts, is this what gardeners are charging these days?
(ignore the shed it is on the list to be replaced)
The hedge...
I'm in West Wilts, is this what gardeners are charging these days?
(ignore the shed it is on the list to be replaced)
OutInTheShed said:
That looks like some kind of cypress conifer being attacked by ivy.
If you cut much off that, it's going to look a right mess?
If you reduce the sides, it will be bald, at least until the ivy wins?
Does look like it might not be in a state to be trimmed much. I'd imagine the ivy has left a nice scar if that's removed.If you cut much off that, it's going to look a right mess?
If you reduce the sides, it will be bald, at least until the ivy wins?
For £600 for that length of hedge you could be a long way towards a nice new replacement with full sized plants of whatever type you liked.
A bit ott but that seems the norm these days, they can be a real pita to cut back though, you think it looks easy and then see the thickness of the branches!
You could do it yourself with some decent hedge trimmers and a platform possibly, the height can be the issue even with a long reach pole trimmer.
You could do it yourself with some decent hedge trimmers and a platform possibly, the height can be the issue even with a long reach pole trimmer.
That job is easy. I would start by cutting it off at around d 5 or 6 feet. You will need a saw as well as a good set of loppers and some pruners.
Disposal? Either in a big car to the dump in a few trips or hire a skip.
If you cut the sides back hard you will get bald areas. If the other side is not yours and is not cut the bald areas will stay bald for years. Especially if north facing.
Eventually other shrubs or trees will fill up the bald patch. This could be encouraged by digging the ground between the trunks and pla ting something fast growing.
As for £600? Seems pricey for me. That looks like one day's work for a professional with the equipment a d transport and shredder to dispose easily
Disposal? Either in a big car to the dump in a few trips or hire a skip.
If you cut the sides back hard you will get bald areas. If the other side is not yours and is not cut the bald areas will stay bald for years. Especially if north facing.
Eventually other shrubs or trees will fill up the bald patch. This could be encouraged by digging the ground between the trunks and pla ting something fast growing.
As for £600? Seems pricey for me. That looks like one day's work for a professional with the equipment a d transport and shredder to dispose easily
I just paid around £600 to have a 10 metre high lauren hedge reduced by 20%. It was 35 metres long. It needed accces equipment and had 3 guys doing it for the best part of 1/2 day.
If you pay more than £100 your being done over, but personally I'd just do it yourself and stop making excuses about work, etc.
If you pay more than £100 your being done over, but personally I'd just do it yourself and stop making excuses about work, etc.
Peter911 said:
I ve got about 300 metres of large hedges. It costs me £50 every time to get it done.
I did buy a large Stihl hedge cutter and did it myself a few times but it s easier to pay with chap with the tractor and flail trimmer.
Flail trimmer is great, if you have the contacts, and tractor access.I did buy a large Stihl hedge cutter and did it myself a few times but it s easier to pay with chap with the tractor and flail trimmer.
Not really a fair comparison.
Flail on tractor spreads the fallout over a wide area, I expect the OP wants it tidied up and disposed of?
This time of year you need to check for active birds' nests before doing this kind of work.
It's easier to DIY.
Get some bags, chop off as much as you can fit in your car, take to dump when you're passing that way.
Hobo said:
I just paid around £600 to have a 10 metre high lauren hedge reduced by 20%. It was 35 metres long. It needed accces equipment and had 3 guys doing it for the best part of 1/2 day.
If you pay more than £100 your being done over, but personally I'd just do it yourself and stop making excuses about work, etc.
I thought my laurel hedges grew quickly, but 10m high is pretty impressive If you pay more than £100 your being done over, but personally I'd just do it yourself and stop making excuses about work, etc.
As others have said, £600 is excessive, but comparing it with hedges cut my a tractor and flail is pointless!
Cow Corner said:
Hobo said:
I just paid around £600 to have a 10 metre high lauren hedge reduced by 20%. It was 35 metres long. It needed accces equipment and had 3 guys doing it for the best part of 1/2 day.
If you pay more than £100 your being done over, but personally I'd just do it yourself and stop making excuses about work, etc.
I thought my laurel hedges grew quickly, but 10m high is pretty impressive If you pay more than £100 your being done over, but personally I'd just do it yourself and stop making excuses about work, etc.
As others have said, £600 is excessive, but comparing it with hedges cut my a tractor and flail is pointless!
Hopeless comments. Why even bother saying anything.
The person mentioning a skip - well, that might cost £200 if it is used....
£600 sounds pricey - get a couple more quotes.
Or indeed, have a go - even £300-400 buys a nice battery reciprocating saw and small chainsaw to get the job done AND have some tools at the end of it
. £600 isn’t far off the mark, having dealt with similar crap jobs, the person quoting probably didn’t want it.
Conifer looks rubbish when it is reduced, as others pointed out the ivy may well leave it looking patchy and these areas may not fill in again.
It is also surprising how much waste comes off conifers such as those, so even taking 20% off may take you a while to get rid of in tip runs if you diy.
Also those saying do it with a hedgecutter are dreaming, you will need a handsaw/chainsaw to reduce by 20%.
My advice would be cut the lot out and plant something nicer there, plenty of fast growing hedging plants that could fill that space reasonably quick.
Conifer looks rubbish when it is reduced, as others pointed out the ivy may well leave it looking patchy and these areas may not fill in again.
It is also surprising how much waste comes off conifers such as those, so even taking 20% off may take you a while to get rid of in tip runs if you diy.
Also those saying do it with a hedgecutter are dreaming, you will need a handsaw/chainsaw to reduce by 20%.
My advice would be cut the lot out and plant something nicer there, plenty of fast growing hedging plants that could fill that space reasonably quick.
Hire a hedge cutter, a shredder and perhaps something to stand on - then rope a mate or two in and cut it yourself.
Put the shreddings on the flower beds. I always put mine on the beds and it rots away over time, whilst improving the soil and repressing weeds. Otherwise you could take it to the tip.
Don't cut through to the inner brown on the sides because its unlikely to go green again on a conifer. You might end up with a green top but you might be ok.
Put the shreddings on the flower beds. I always put mine on the beds and it rots away over time, whilst improving the soil and repressing weeds. Otherwise you could take it to the tip.
Don't cut through to the inner brown on the sides because its unlikely to go green again on a conifer. You might end up with a green top but you might be ok.
Thanks for the replies, I did think £600 was expensive but that does include all his fuel for machines and transportation 
Had another chap round yesterday so just waiting on a price from him
Removing the lot and replacing will cost a lot more than £600 i'm sure but taking right back to the trunks and having something else grow up around sounds like a good idea
Had another chap round yesterday so just waiting on a price from him
Removing the lot and replacing will cost a lot more than £600 i'm sure but taking right back to the trunks and having something else grow up around sounds like a good idea
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