Hedge Trimming
From a crisp line on a formal box hedge to a leylandii that's eaten the washing line, we cut, reduce, and reshape hedges across Gloucestershire, and take every scrap of the cuttings away with us.
All Cuttings Removed & Recycled
Hedge Trimming
Hedge trimming is the cutting and shaping of hedges to keep them dense, healthy, and the size you actually want, and like most simple-sounding jobs, the difference between done and done well is obvious from the street. Silver Tree Services trims, reduces, and renovates hedges across Gloucestershire, from a single garden hedge to long rural boundaries, with the kit and the ladder-and-platform competence to do tall hedges properly and safely.
Hedges we trim
We work with all the common garden and boundary hedges, and we cut each one the way it should be cut:
- Leylandii and conifer hedges, including height reductions on hedges that have got away from you
- Privet, which is fast-growing and usually needs two or three cuts a season to stay sharp
- Beech and hornbeam, the classic Cotswold hedges that hold their copper leaves through winter
- Laurel, which we cut with care so the large leaves aren't left shredded and brown
- Box and yew formal hedges and topiary, trimmed to clean, even shapes
- Native and mixed hedgerows, kept stock-proof and tidy
What we do
- Maintenance trimming, the regular cuts that keep a hedge crisp, dense, and in bounds, usually once or twice a year depending on species
- Hedge reduction, bringing an overgrown hedge down in height and back in width, staged where the species needs it
- Leylandii control, the county's most common rescue job: reduced, squared, and put on a maintenance cycle before it becomes a removal job, with the important caveat that leylandii won't regrow from brown internal wood, so honest advice sometimes means "this one's beyond saving"
- Formal hedges, box, yew, beech, hornbeam, privet, and laurel cut to clean lines and shapes
- Tall hedge work, platforms and qualified climbers for hedges beyond ladder height
- Renovation and hard cutbacks, restoring neglected hedges species by species, because beech, yew, and hornbeam forgive hard cutting and conifers mostly don't
- Rural and boundary hedges, long runs cut by hand or, where scale suits, through our tractor-mounted equipment
Where a “hedge” has quietly become a row of trees, our tree surgery teams take over, and once a dead hedge comes out, stump grinding clears the line for replanting, which our landscaping team can supply and plant from our own nursery.
Birds first, always
Hedges are the most important nesting habitat in most gardens, and the main nesting season runs 1 March to 31 August under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, when damaging an active nest is an offence. We programme major cutting and reductions outside the season, and where in-season trimming is needed, we check the hedge first and work around any active nests. A contractor who’ll flail through a hedge in May without looking is telling you everything about the rest of their work too.
The cuttings go with us
Every trim ends the same way: cuttings raked, cleared, and loaded, lawns and beds left clean, and the green waste recycled through the closed-loop yard behind our ISO 14001 certification. No bags left by your bin, no “green waste collection extra” surprise on the invoice.
Why choose Silver Tree Services
Silver Tree Services has traded for over 20 years from Shurdington, Cheltenham, with 30+ qualified staff across seven specialist teams, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, ARB Approved Contractor status, and SMAS SSIP accreditation. Crews are NPTC-certificated with IPAF and CSCS where work requires it, RAMS are produced per site, DBS-checked operatives are available for sensitive settings, and public and employers’ liability insurance covers every job. The client list, NHS, Gloucestershire Police, Stroud District Council, Savills, the Church of England, is the vetting evidence.
Areas we cover
We trim hedges across the whole of Gloucestershire, including Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, Tewkesbury, Cirencester, and the Cotswold towns, as well as cities such as Bristol, Bath, and Swindon. If you’re not sure whether we reach you, just ask.
Guide prices
Hedge trimming is priced by the size and length of the hedge, its height, and how overgrown it is, so a small front-garden hedge is a quick, low-cost job while a long or very tall hedge takes longer. Every quote is free and given after we’ve seen the hedge, with no obligation.
Good Questions
Frequently asked.
When is the best time to trim a hedge?
It depends on the hedge, but most formal hedges are best trimmed in late spring and again in late summer, while fast growers like privet may need two or three cuts across the season. The one fixed rule is bird nesting season: it’s an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to disturb an active nest, and the main season runs from 1 March to 31 August, so major hedge work is best booked for autumn or winter. Silver Tree Services checks every hedge for active nests before starting and will advise on the right timing for your particular hedge.
How often should hedges be trimmed?
Most formal hedges need trimming two to three times a year to stay sharp, while informal or native hedges are usually fine with one cut a year. Fast-growing species such as privet and leylandii are at the higher end, and slower hedges like yew can need less. Silver Tree Services can trim your hedges on a one-off basis or as part of a regular schedule across Gloucestershire and surrounding areas, so they never get the chance to become overgrown.
Can you reduce the height of a tall or overgrown hedge?
Yes. As well as trimming the sides, we can reduce the height of a hedge to bring back light and a manageable shape, which is one of the most common requests we get for overgrown leylandii. How hard a hedge can be cut back depends on the species, since some regenerate well from old wood and others don’t, so we’ll advise on the best approach. Silver Tree Services handles everything from a modest reduction to cutting a badly overgrown hedge right back, and can remove and replant where a hedge is beyond saving.
Do you take the clippings away?
Yes, clearing up is included as standard. We collect every clipping and leave the area tidy, so you’re not left with a pile of greenery to deal with. As an ISO 14001 certified company, Silver Tree Services recycles the green waste into woodchip, mulch, or compost rather than sending it to landfill. If you’d rather keep the chippings for your own use, just let us know.
What if there are birds nesting in my hedge?
If we find an active nest, we won’t cut that section until the birds have finished and fledged, because disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. We always check before we start, and during nesting season (1 March to 31 August) we can often still carry out light maintenance once we’ve confirmed an area is clear. For bigger jobs, Silver Tree Services will usually recommend booking them in for after nesting season.
How much does hedge trimming cost?
Hedge trimming is priced by the length and height of the hedge and how overgrown it is, so a short, well-kept hedge is a quick and inexpensive job, while a long or very tall hedge or a major height reduction takes longer and costs more. Silver Tree Services gives a free written quote after seeing the hedge, across Gloucestershire and surrounding areas, with no obligation.
Ready When You Are
Sharp hedges,
no aftermath.
Book a free site visit and we’ll trim your hedges into shape, clear away every bit of green waste, and leave the garden tidy. Honest written quote, usually within the week.
Or call · 01242 472560