Hawthorn hedging out of control - what would you do?

[X344chap]

Hi - i have a load of hawthorn hedging thats not been touched in over 20 years with the result that its grown tall (up to 25 feet in places) with all the greenery mostly on the top and just trunk and straggly branches for the bottom 5 feet.

Is it saveable? If i cut i down to 5 feet with the chainsaw i dont think it would survive without any leaves. I was thinking of cutting 3 or 4 feet off it a year and seeing if it would regrow new branches from the trunk.

Any hedging experts out there?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks

 

[MF 135 Man]

Hi - i have a load of hawthorn hedging thats not been touched in over 20 years with the result that its grown tall (up to 25 feet in places) with all the greenery mostly on the top and just trunk and straggly branches for the bottom 5 feet.

Is it saveable? If i cut i down to 5 feet with the chainsaw i dont think it would survive without any leaves. I was thinking of cutting 3 or 4 feet off it a year and seeing if it would regrow new branches from the trunk.

Any hedging experts out there?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks

cut it of at ground level and let it re-grow.

if it was my hedge i would be planting more sprouts in the gaps and laying the hedge in a few years.

Huw

 

[Johngee]

cut it of at ground level and let it re-grow.

if it was my hedge i would be planting more sprouts in the gaps and laying the hedge in a few years.

Huw

Yes agree, obviously best done during the winter of course.

 

[Gulli]

Flailed a big hedge this winter down to about 4 foot and it's greening up nicely now. Probably best getting it laid or cutting off at ground level and starting again. Just neither option was very practical for this hedge so we battered it back and it should be a nice hedge in a few years if it's kept on top of

 

[farmerclare]

If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire The A-Team."

 

[Yale]

It is possible to lay this type of hedge with a chainsaw and a digger.

I did some a few years back but it was more like 15 feet not 25.

Done in the dormant period during the winter.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

40 years ago I moved into a derelict Victorian semi. On three sides was a 90 year old hawthorn hedge nearly 30' tall. This had been planted on both sides of 3' classic park-land railing, four flat bars & a round on top so I felt I was unable to cut with a chainsaw. What I did do however was to cut all along as close to the top of the top round rail and watch. 25 years later with careful clipping & weaving there's a perfect hedge. I do believe you can either cut about 6'' from the ground or go mad & lay it. Whichever you chose will be good.
I'm playing the waiting game with my current ten year old hawthorn mixed hedge at 15' tall & it really does look good right now as the may is out.
Oh yes as has been mentioned October 'till March is the time to 'do'.
SS

 

[organicguy]

Try to lay it, but be happy to cut all the dead stuff out and let the root stock regrow. It will lay easiest in the spring when it has "mouse ears", The rising sap makes it more flexible.

 

[Yale]

This is the one i did.

 

[Henarar]

lay it

 

[Kevtherev]

Slash it down to hedge height be absolutely fine

 

[Werzle]

Shape saw it off but expect thorns and flat tyres/lame animals for yrs

 

[Matt]

We just done a hedge similar to yours. Took the big stuff out and layed what we could. Greening up and looking ok now. Failing not having enough to lay you have got to cut it off.

 

[mo!]

Digger and tree shear to 6", in winter.

 

[Exfarmer]

Hawthorn is the very best hedge plant you can have, it will withstand anything you can xhuck at it apart from glyphosate and MCPA.
Bash it, beat it, flail it, saw it and it will laugh at you, just dont rip it out or spray it!
Simple way just saw it off and let it regrow. Best way , get someone to lay it

 

[collie]

Make sure you get keep the sheep off,and keep the logs they are the best for an open fire as they don’t spark.

 

[Henarar]

We just done a hedge similar to yours. Took the big stuff out and layed what we could. Greening up and looking ok now. Failing not having enough to lay you have got to cut it off.

can't be to big to lay,

 

[holywell farmer]

lay it

It's a skill hedge laying

 

[Raider112]

It's not just good policy to do it in winter, you are in breach of cross compliance to do it now and you'll have birds nesting now as well. Sorry if you already know that but some don't seem to.

 

[Henarar]

It's a skill hedge laying

the way my mate does it its an art form
but its not that difficult once you get going
put in for a grant and they will pay you to do it, just done 5k worth