As of: February 6, 2024, 7:04 p.m
By: Ines Alms
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Spring is almost here and your hedge is longing for care.
To rejuvenate the hedge, you should bring it back into shape with correct pruning.
When February arrives, the garden slowly but surely awakens from its hibernation.
One of the most important tasks this month is taking care of the hedges - because there isn't much time left for major pruning measures.
But what is the best way to do this?
Here you will get valuable tips on how to optimally trim your hedge in February.
1. Which hedges are cut?
Thujen hedges are unforgivable if they are cut incorrectly and can become bald.
© imagebroker/Imago
Hedges remain opaque if they are trimmed regularly.
For spring-flowering hedges such as forsythia, it is important not to prune in February, but directly after the flowering period in spring in order not to affect the blooms.
Conifers such as the Thuja only receive a light pruning of the fresh shoots, otherwise they can become bald and form brown spots.
The yew is also a coniferous tree, but as an exception it can tolerate severe pruning - just like the evergreen cherry laurel.
2. Right time to trim the hedge
Choose a frost-free, dry and cloudy day from mid-February.
Wet weather can lead to fungus and disease.
Too much sunshine can dry out the cut surfaces and the hedge will wilt.
According to the Federal Nature Conservation Act, you are only allowed to cut hedges between October 1st and February 28th, otherwise you risk a fine.
Severe pruning to around 20 centimeters above the ground is then prohibited; gentle maintenance pruning and small corrective measures are permitted.
In any case, before cutting, check whether birds have already settled in the hedge and then wait before cutting so as not to disturb breeding periods.
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the regular newsletter from our partner 24garten.de.
3. Prepare tools
Make sure your hedge trimmers are sharp and disinfected to ensure clean cuts and minimize injury to plants and the transfer of bacteria and fungi.
Anyone who cuts with an electric hedge trimmer should pay particular attention to the correct position: parallel next to the hedge, facing the uncut end.
The cut is made with outstretched arms up and down, always in the same direction and at the same distance from the hedge.
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4. Wear protective clothing
Some plant species such as thuja or yew are poisonous.
But to avoid scratches, protective clothing such as long-sleeved clothing, gloves and safety glasses is also recommended.
5. The topiary
Cut the hedge conically so that it is about 30 centimeters wider at the bottom than at the top.
This means that the lower branches also receive a little more light.
This method is also called trapezoidal cutting.
In terms of width, you should orientate yourself on the natural growth of the respective plant species and not intervene too much here.
6. Stay on target
If you are not sure about making a straight cut, you can stretch a cord between two stakes on the ground at the desired cutting height along the hedge.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at her own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.