What time of year should I cut back large trees, hedges and bushes please?

[JessicaRebeccaRabbit]

Hello, I am a novice gardener and while I am ok with my new garden itself, I am not sure when we should cut back the hedges etc. Everything is in full bloom now it seems, and while a bit unruly, I wonder if we should cut back a bit, or wait? We also have a private road to maintain, which is used by some others too...think I will ask their opinion before I go ahead with any chopping (they have no obligation to maintain). Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi OP. I'm not exactly hugely experienced but I can tell you that our hedges are cut twice a year, in April and September. By bushes do you mean shrubs? They are normally cut back after flowering. If you know what they are google or a good gardening book should tell you when to prune, and how much to prune by.

It depends a bit what the hedging is, i.e. what plants! This may help: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=352

I wouldn't cut now - birds are nesting!

Thanks for that! We are in Scotland so not sure if that makes a difference...I know we have still had frost in recent weeks. But trees are in bloom. Will look at that link thanks. By bushes, I think I mean shrubs yes, need to hone my lingo haha! :)

It's more the variety/species of plants that makes a difference because plants all get pruned in different ways and at different times of year. That might sound complicated, but it's not when you get used to it. If you can let us know what you have, we might be able to help a bit more!

You also need to be careful of nesting birds for the next few months. A bit of light trimming to neaten stray bits etc wouldn't do any harm to plant or bird, but I wouldn't cut them back hard at this time of year.

It all depends on the tree/bush.
Some have to be cut early spring , others after flowering.

Best if you first identify what they are. Also have look at this general guide:
www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=353

this will show you variety of plants and timings:
www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=352

Doesn't It also depend if the shrub/ bush is overhanging the grass? If you leave it til the autumn, the grass won't have chance to grow back so there will be bare patches until next spring.

Delends if it is deep shade. Whak kind od sool. Dropping leaves may also be changing acidity of soil. I would first identify what tree/bush grows in your hedge and estimate how old those overhanging branches are.

Trees are full of sap in the summer so much heavier to deal with than in, say, January, their dormant time.

The problem there is that you can see the bits you want to get rid of in the summer, when they are in leaf or flower, but have forgotten by January! Perhaps mark them with paint or ribbon, the bits you want rid of.

Also pruning seems to spur some things into growth. I 'pruned' a hawthorn tree as it was hanging into the path of the lawnmower in the early summer and it threw out long straight vertical branches, instead of the nice little normal wiggly ones.
Perhaps it would have done anyway but just in case I try to prune in winter. But this was something not normally pruned, like a hedge.
So perhaps the answer is to be cautious with any shrubs or trees you particularly like and follow the RHS advice in the posts above.