Hedge trimming is the routine cut: tops and faces taken back to last year's line so the hedge stays dense, straight and the size you want. It is the job to book once or twice a year, before a hedge gets away from you.
We connect you with one local clearance specialist in your area. You see an indicative price here, and they confirm a fixed price from your photos, usually the same day.
What it costs
Trimming is priced by the length of hedge, with the clippings taken away.
| Hedge length | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Up to 15 metres | £150 (minimum job) |
| 20 metres | about £200 |
| 30 metres | about £300 |
| 40 metres | about £400 |
The guide rate is about £10 per metre, minimum £150. Measure along the hedge, and count both sides if both need cutting and you can reach them from your land. Access through the house, or more than 20 metres from the van, adds about 15%. Prices are indicative.
What affects the price
- Length, and how many faces. A hedge cut on the top and both sides is more work than one cut on the top and your side only.
- Height. The per-metre rate assumes a hedge that can be trimmed from the ground or a short step-up. If it is taller than you, it has probably outgrown trimming and needs a hedge reduction, which is tree work and priced differently.
- How long since the last cut. A hedge trimmed last year is quick. One left for three or four years has thick new growth that has to be cut harder and produces far more waste.
- Species. Privet, beech and hawthorn trim easily. Laurel's large leaves are best cut with hand shears or careful machine work to avoid ragged, browning leaves. Leylandii grows fast and doesn't regrow from bare brown wood, so it has to be kept in check with regular trims.
- Access. A hedge running along a busy road may need extra care to keep the pavement clear.
Example: a 25-metre privet hedge along the front and side of a house in Sutton Coldfield, cut top and one face, would be about £250. The same hedge at the back of a terraced house in North Birmingham, with clippings carried through the house, would be around £288.
What the job involves
- Check for nests before cutting, particularly between March and August.
- Cut the faces with powered hedge trimmers, usually tapering slightly so the base is wider than the top. This lets light reach the bottom of the hedge and keeps it from going bare.
- Cut the top to a straight line, using a string line on long runs.
- Clear up. Sheets are laid along the base to catch clippings, which are bagged and taken away. Paths and lawns are swept or blown clear.
Most garden hedges take a few hours.
What to photograph for a quote
Good photos usually mean a fixed price without a visit. More photo tips.
- The whole thing, with your house or fence in shot for scale
- The base or ground level and what’s around it: walls, sheds, beds
- The route in from the road: side gate, steps, the path through
Questions about hedge trimming
How often should a hedge be trimmed?
Most garden hedges need one or two cuts a year. Fast growers like privet and Leylandii can need two or three. Late summer, after the main nesting season, is a common time for the main cut, with a lighter trim in early autumn if needed.
Can I trim my neighbour's side of the hedge?
You can usually trim back growth that overhangs your side of the boundary, but you need the owner's agreement to go onto their land or cut their side. Our guide on cutting a neighbour's overhanging branches covers the same principles.
My hedge is well over head height. Is that still trimming?
Probably not. Cutting a tall hedge down to a manageable height is a reduction, done with platforms or ladders and priced separately under hedge reduction. If you want it taken out completely, see hedge removal and the hedge removal cost guide.
Can a Leylandii hedge be cut back hard?
Only into green growth. Leylandii doesn't reshoot from old brown wood, so cutting too far leaves bare patches that won't recover. If it has already outgrown the space, read our Leylandii hedge removal guide before deciding.
Are the clippings taken away?
Yes, the price includes clearing and removing the clippings. If you want to keep them for composting, say so and the price may be adjusted.