Hedging and Small Tree work

Regular pruning of your trees and shrubs should be done each year. This will ensure that your trees and bushes stay healthy and in good shape. Different types of shrubs and trees need different tree management. At Stephen Huxtable’s Garden Services, I am qualified to ensure that your bushes get the right treatment at the right time of year to always be at their best.

Most deciduous trees are best pruned when dormant, in late autumn or winter and should not be pruned early as they can bleed sap if cut at this time of year and risk disease. There are some exceptions to this general rule such as maple, horse chestnut, birch, walnut and cherry trees which should be pruned mid-summer after new growth has matured. The knowledge of the different trees is vital so always ensure your treasured garden trees are cared for by a skilled arborist. Conifers require little pruning except for the removal of dead or diseased branches in late summer.

Major tree surgery, chainsaw work and any pruning which is substantial, high, inaccessible should be done by a qualified expert.

I have obtained the following qualifications NPTC (National Proficiency Tests Council) Qualifications:

Level 2
CS30
CS31
CS32

- Certificate in Arboriculture
- Maintaining and operating a chainsaw
- Felling and processing small trees
- Felling and processing medium trees

Hedges require formative pruning for their first couple of years after planting which is usually carried out in winter or spring. After this, maintenance trimming is carried out, usually once a year for informal hedges and twice a year for formal hedges. Maintenance trimming is generally carried out between spring and summer. Hedges are usually one of three types: uprights, stocky or flowering. The trimming of hedges needs to take account of the type of hedge being cared for so it is important to choose a gardener who knows what he is doing!