Why Your Hedge Is Growing So Fast (And When to Cut It)
If you’ve looked at your garden recently and thought…
👉 “That hedge wasn’t that big a few weeks ago…”
You’re not imagining it.
This time of year — especially through April and May — is when hedges put on a huge amount of growth, often very quickly.
We get a lot of enquiries around this time from homeowners wondering whether it’s time to cut their hedge back, or why it suddenly feels out of control.
Why Do Hedges Grow So Fast in Spring?
As temperatures rise and daylight increases, plants enter a rapid growth phase.
Hedges like:
Leylandii
Laurel
Privet
Beech
can grow significantly in just a few weeks.
This is because:
Longer daylight hours boost photosynthesis
Warmer temperatures speed up growth
Spring rain provides ideal conditions
👉 Put simply — it’s the perfect environment for hedges to take off.
When Should You Cut Your Hedge?
This is where it gets a bit more important.
During spring and early summer, hedges are often used by birds for nesting.
In the UK, nesting season typically runs from:
👉 March to August
Because of this:
You should not cut a hedge if there are active nests present
It is illegal to disturb nesting birds
👉 Always check before carrying out any work.
Can You Trim Hedges in May?
Yes — but with care.
Light trimming or maintenance can often still be carried out, as long as there are no active nests in the hedge.
For example:
✔ Light shaping
✔ Trimming outer growth
✔ Tidying overgrowth
However, heavier reductions or hedge removals are often best left until later in the year.
Signs Your Hedge Needs Cutting Back
If your hedge is:
Blocking light into your garden
Growing into neighbouring properties
Becoming difficult to manage
Looking uneven or overgrown
👉 It may be time to carry out some trimming (when safe to do so).
Why Regular Hedge Maintenance Matters
Keeping on top of hedge growth helps:
Maintain a tidy garden
Prevent hedges becoming too large
Reduce the need for heavy cutting later
Keep long-term costs lower
👉 Regular trimming is usually much easier (and cheaper) than dealing with an overgrown hedge. Take a look at our average costs.
What Happens If You Leave It Too Long?
If hedges are left unmanaged:
They can grow too tall and dense
Cutting them back becomes more difficult
Some species (like Leylandii) don’t recover well from heavy cutting
👉 This can sometimes lead to full hedge reduction or removal being needed.
Not Sure If It’s the Right Time?
If you’re unsure whether your hedge can be cut safely, it’s always best to get advice.
We regularly assess hedges during this time of year and can advise on:
Whether work can go ahead
What level of trimming is suitable
Whether it’s best to wait
Need Help With Hedge Trimming?
If your hedge has suddenly got out of control, we’re here to help.
We provide:
✔ Hedge trimming and hedge cutting
✔ Hedge reductions
✔ Hedge removal (including Leylandii)
✔ General garden maintenance
👉 Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote