{"id":611975266630,"date":"2025-10-16T16:41:44","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T16:41:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/blogs\/uncategorized\/trimming-new-hedges-formative-pruning\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T08:41:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T08:41:31","slug":"trimming-new-hedges-formative-pruning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/blogs\/hedging\/trimming-new-hedges-formative-pruning\/","title":{"rendered":"Formative Pruning New Hedges"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Pruning Young Hedges While Growing to Mature Size<\/h2><p><strong>Formative pruning<\/strong> of a <strong>new hedge<\/strong> is handled differently from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/blogs\/hedging\/trim-clip-prune-garden-hedge\">trimming a mature hedge<\/a>.<\/p><p>Because you want your new hedge to reach the desired height, the general aim is to <strong>remove the tips<\/strong> of the <strong>stems all over the plant<\/strong> once a year, maybe twice for vigorous evergreens. <\/p><ul><li>Native country hedge plants also get hard pruned, which is essential to force sufficient branching close to ground level.<\/li><\/ul><h4>Deciduous Hedges<\/h4><ul>\n<li>\n<strong>When<\/strong>: In Autumn or Winter when plants are dormant, sometimes after planting, and again the following winter.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>How<\/strong>: <ul>\n<li>Only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/native-british-hedging-plants\">native country hedge plants<\/a> like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/hawthorn-hedge-plants-crataegus-monogyna\">Hawthorn<\/a> are <strong>cut back hard<\/strong> by about 50% immediately after planting. The new growth from that point is cut by 50% one year later, then lightly trimmed once per year until the hedge is fully grown.<\/li>\n<li>This <strong>hard pruning is not done<\/strong> to any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/formal-hedging-plants\">formal hedge plants<\/a>, even natives like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/beech-hedging-plants-fagus\">Beech<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/hornbeam-hedging-plants-carpinus\">Hornbeam<\/a>. There is no need to trim them after planting, or else only very lightly to remove the leaf buds at the tips of the stems and to tidy straggling stems. Trim them lightly every winter until the hedge is fully grown.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><h4>Evergreen Broadleaf Hedges<\/h4><ul>\n<li>\n<strong>When<\/strong>: In Spring, as soon as frosts have passed, when new growth is starting. Again in Autumn if necessary due to vigorous growth.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>How<\/strong>: Using secateurs, snip off the ends of every stem, and prune side shoots back into line, leaving an upward\/outward facing bud. <\/li>\n<\/ul><p><strong>Evergreen Conifer Hedges<\/strong>:<\/p><ul>\n<li>\n<strong>When<\/strong>: In late Spring or Summer until the end of August, when the plants are growing. Once a year is enough for most plants, except <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/products\/leylandii-hedge-plants-cupressus-leylandii\">Leylandii<\/a>, which will probably need two trims a year while reaching full size.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>How<\/strong>: <strong>Do not prune <\/strong>the <strong>leading shoot<\/strong> until the hedge is fully grown: this applies to all conifers and is especially important for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/collections\/yew-hedging-plants-taxus\">Yew<\/a>. Use shears to trim all side shoots to encourage dense growth down to the base.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<section class=\"prodshow-shopify-block\" \n         id=\"prodshow-block-1\"\n         >\n\t\n\t<div class=\"prodshow-container\">\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Multiple Products\/Collection View -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-header\">\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"prodshow-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRelated Products\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-carousel\" data-carousel=\"prodshow-block-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-carousel-viewport\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-carousel-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/hawthorn-hedge-plants-crataegus-monogyna\" \n\t   class=\"prodshow-product-link\" \n\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t   aria-label=\"Hawthorn Hedge Plants\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-image-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/hawthorn-hedging.webp?v=1776770280\" \n\t\t\t\t\t alt=\"Mature hawthorn hedge\" \n\t\t\t\t\t class=\"prodshow-product-image prodshow-product-image-primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/hawthorn-hedge-bird.jpg?v=1776770280\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\t alt=\"Bird enjoying life on a hawthorn Hedge\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\t class=\"prodshow-product-image prodshow-product-image-secondary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-content\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"prodshow-product-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/hawthorn-hedge-plants-crataegus-monogyna\" \n\t\t\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t\t\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\tHawthorn Hedge Plants\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"prodshow-product-price\">\n\t\t\t\t\u00a30.99\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"prodshow-product-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/silver-birch-sapling-plants-betula-pendula\" \n\t   class=\"prodshow-product-link\" \n\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t   aria-label=\"Silver Birch Sapling Trees\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-image-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/silver-birch-tree-betula-pendula-3.jpg?v=1756822315\" \n\t\t\t\t\t alt=\"Mature Silver Birch tree\" \n\t\t\t\t\t class=\"prodshow-product-image prodshow-product-image-primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/silver-birch-betula-pendula-leaves-1.jpg?v=1756822315\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\t alt=\"Close-up of fresh green serrated leaves on Silver Birch sapling hedge plants showing natural foliage detail\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\t class=\"prodshow-product-image prodshow-product-image-secondary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-content\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"prodshow-product-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/silver-birch-sapling-plants-betula-pendula\" \n\t\t\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t\t\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\tSilver Birch Sapling Trees\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"prodshow-product-price\">\n\t\t\t\t\u00a31.99\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"prodshow-product-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/green-holly-hedge-plants-ilex-aquifolium\" \n\t   class=\"prodshow-product-link\" \n\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t   aria-label=\"English Holly Hedge Plants\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-image-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/holly-trees-hedging-ilex-aquifolium-potted-bushes.jpg?v=1756739466\" \n\t\t\t\t\t alt=\"English Holly hedge plant with glossy spiky green leaves and bright red berries in winter\" \n\t\t\t\t\t class=\"prodshow-product-image prodshow-product-image-primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/green-holly-berries-ilex-aquifolium-1.jpg?v=1755543158\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\t alt=\"Green Holly Ilex aquifolium Berries\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\t class=\"prodshow-product-image prodshow-product-image-secondary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-content\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"prodshow-product-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/green-holly-hedge-plants-ilex-aquifolium\" \n\t\t\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t\t\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\tEnglish Holly Hedge Plants\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"prodshow-product-price\">\n\t\t\t\t\u00a36.89\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"prodshow-product-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/nordman-fir-sapling-trees-abies-nordmanniana\" \n\t   class=\"prodshow-product-link\" \n\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t   aria-label=\"Non-Drop Christmas Tree Saplings\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-image-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/nordmann-fir-tree-abies-nordmanniana-2.jpg?v=1755634624\" \n\t\t\t\t\t alt=\"Young Nordmann Fir Tree\" \n\t\t\t\t\t class=\"prodshow-product-image prodshow-product-image-primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/nordmann-fir-tree-abies-nordmanniana-1.jpg?v=1755634624\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\t alt=\"Nordmann Fir sapling being planted\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\t class=\"prodshow-product-image prodshow-product-image-secondary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-content\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"prodshow-product-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/nordman-fir-sapling-trees-abies-nordmanniana\" \n\t\t\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t\t\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\tNon-Drop Christmas Tree Saplings\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"prodshow-product-price\">\n\t\t\t\t\u00a33.99\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"prodshow-product-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/large-rootball-english-yew-tree-instant-hedging\" \n\t   class=\"prodshow-product-link\" \n\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t   aria-label=\"Rootballed Yew, Large Hedge Plants\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-image-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/rootballed-yew-hedge-plants.jpg?v=1755543209\" \n\t\t\t\t\t alt=\"Rootballed Yew Hedge Plants\" \n\t\t\t\t\t class=\"prodshow-product-image prodshow-product-image-primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/large-rootball-yew-hedging-100-125cm.jpg?v=1755634538\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\t alt=\"Bigger Rootballed Yew Hedge Plants 100\/125cm tall\" \n\t\t\t\t\t\t class=\"prodshow-product-image prodshow-product-image-secondary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-content\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"prodshow-product-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/large-rootball-english-yew-tree-instant-hedging\" \n\t\t\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t\t\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\tRootballed Yew, Large Hedge Plants\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"prodshow-product-price\">\n\t\t\t\t\u00a324.99\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"prodshow-product-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/mixed-bn11-bn7-countryside-stewardship-hedge-plants\" \n\t   class=\"prodshow-product-link\" \n\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t   aria-label=\"Countryside Stewardship Grant Native Hedge Mix\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-image-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0947\/0351\/8022\/files\/countryside-stewardship-hedging-bn11.jpg?v=1755205286\" \n\t\t\t\t\t alt=\"Newly Planted &amp; Fenced BN11 Mixed Native Hedging\" \n\t\t\t\t\t class=\"prodshow-product-image prodshow-product-image-primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-content\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"prodshow-product-title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/ashridge-trees.myshopify.com\/products\/mixed-bn11-bn7-countryside-stewardship-hedge-plants\" \n\t\t\t   target=\"_blank\" \n\t\t\t   rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\n\t\t\t\tCountryside Stewardship Grant Native Hedge Mix\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-product-meta\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p class=\"prodshow-product-price\">\n\t\t\t\t\u00a369.95\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"prodshow-carousel-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"prodshow-carousel-btn prodshow-carousel-prev\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"40\" height=\"40\" viewBox=\"0 0 40 40\" fill=\"none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<rect width=\"40\" height=\"40\" rx=\"20\" fill=\"#F5F5F5\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M23 13L16 20L23 27\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"prodshow-carousel-btn prodshow-carousel-next\" aria-label=\"Next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"40\" height=\"40\" viewBox=\"0 0 40 40\" 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Hard pruning for native country hedges; light trimming for formal deciduous &amp; evergreen varieties.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/blogs\/hedging\/trimming-new-hedges-formative-pruning\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Formative Pruning New Hedges \u2013 Young Hedge Care Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Essential pruning techniques for newly planted hedges. 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