Laurel Hedge Cutting Case Study

Introduction

The client has a 20m section of Laurel hedging located at the front of their commercial property.

Our Client’s Aim

To cut back the annual growth on both sides and top of the hedge to maintain the hedge at its current width and height.

Our Proposal

• As this is only cutting back annual growth, standard hedge trimmers can be used. The hedge is accessible for a tractor side-arm flail but, due to the short length of hedge and surround cars on the road and car park, it is not practical. A hedge trimmer also provides a cleaner and neater finished cut, particularly on species such as Laurel.
• Both the sides and top of the hedge would be cut with a combination of a standard hedge trimmer and a long-reach, or pole, hedge trimmer. The long-reach hedge trimmer allows for easier cutting of the higher parts of the hedge and is basically a hedge trimmer attached to the end of the pole.
• Due to the height of the hedge, a step ladder was used to aid in the cutting of the top if the hedge.
• The cut arisings would be raked from the hedge and then into piles to be removed from site. This includes to rake any built-up arisings at the base of the hedge.
• Following completion of the works, the path is blown clear of any minor debris which would be blown back into the base of the hedge and allowed to naturally decompose.

Result

A neat and uniformly cut hedge that is not impeding onto the path or any car parking spaces. As the work is undertaken in late-summer, there is minimal new growth until spring the following year so the hedge remains neat and tidy for approx. 6 months.