Pruning and Coppicing Hedging Plants: A Guide for Gardeners

Nov 26, 2024

Pruning and coppicing hedging plants: A Guide for Gardeners tells you how to keep your hedges healthy, vibrant, and productive year after year. These techniques not only maintain the shape of your hedge but also promote a thicker, more wildlife-friendly boundary. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned gardener, understanding when and how to use pruning, coppicing, and laying methods will ensure your hedge thrives and continues to enhance your outdoor space.

Pruning Hedges

Pruning is the most regular and accessible hedge maintenance task. Unlike coppicing or laying, pruning is something you’ll want to do every year to maintain your hedge’s health, shape, and growth. It’s great for encouraging denser, stronger growth and helps keep your hedge from becoming overgrown or leggy.

When to Prune: The best time to prune is during late winter or early spring before new growth begins, or after flowering if you're dealing with a flowering hedge.

How to Prune: Start by cutting away any dead, damaged, or diseased wood. Then, focus on removing any long or unruly branches to keep the hedge in a neat shape. Use secateurs to trim just above a bud or side branch, which will encourage new growth. For thicker branches, use loppers or a pruning saw. Always aim for clean, angled cuts to help the plant heal.

Thinning: If your hedge is getting too thick, thinning it out will improve airflow and allow light to penetrate, benefitting the plants and any wildlife. You can remove some of the older, less productive growth to make room for fresh shoots.

Coppicing Hedges

Coppicing is a more drastic, yet highly beneficial, technique. It's typically done every few years and involves cutting your hedge back to its base to encourage fresh, vigorous growth. It’s best done in sections to reduce its impact on wildlife. This technique is especially useful for older hedges or whips that need rejuvenating.

When to Coppice: Coppicing is best done in late winter or early spring while the plants are still dormant, giving them plenty of time to regenerate with new growth once the warmer months arrive. Coppicing should generally not be done in the first year after planting – coppicing too early might stress the plants and limit their ability to establish. Coppice, ideally, in the second or third year of growth, once the plants have had enough time to establish and have produced some strong, healthy growth. From then on, you can continue coppicing as needed to rejuvenate and promote healthy, dense growth.
How to Coppice: Select the older, woodier stems of your hedge (usually ones that are 2-3 years old or older). Cut them back to about 15-30 cm from the ground or base, ensuring that you leave some of the plant intact to stimulate fresh growth. Don’t be afraid to cut hard—it’s all about rejuvenating the plant for healthier, denser growth. Be sure to remove any dead or damaged wood to keep your hedge looking its best. Cut at an angle to allow water to run off.
Why Coppice: Coppicing encourages dense growth, provides better shelter for wildlife, and ensures that your hedge stays productive and attractive for many years. It also prevents the hedge from becoming leggy or sparse.
What species to coppice: The following native hedging species respond well to coppicing: Hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn, dogwood, dog rose, hornbeam, sweet briar rose, elder, guelder rose, spindle, buckthorn and wild privet.

Laying Hedges: A Traditional Technique

Laying is a more advanced, but incredibly rewarding, method used to create a thick, sturdy, and natural-looking hedge. It involves weaving the branches of the hedge horizontally to form a living wall, and it’s perfect for creating a strong, long-lasting boundary.

When to Lay: Laying is typically done every 10-20 years, depending on the age of the hedge. It’s best done during late winter or early spring when the plants are still dormant, and their stems are more flexible.
How to Lay:

Start with healthy plants that are around 2-5 years old. Choose the strongest, most flexible stems (called pleachers).
Partially cut the pleachers (about halfway through) and bend them over to lie horizontally along the hedge line. Don’t cut all the way through—just enough so they can bend easily.
Weave the pleachers together to form a thick, interwoven structure, securing them with stakes or by interlacing with other stems. This process creates a dense, durable hedge that will continue to grow and fill in naturally.

Why Lay: Laying is a fantastic way to rejuvenate an older hedge or create a new, low-maintenance barrier. It results in a thick, stocky hedge that provides excellent shelter and food for wildlife. Plus, it creates a stunning, traditional look that blends beautifully with your landscape.
Native Hedging Species for Laying: Hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn, dogwood, hornbeam, elder (but needs to be done when the stems are young and flexible), guelder rose (though can be a bit tricky), spindle and wild privet.

When to Prune, Coppice, and Lay Hedges

Pruning should be done every year, typically in late winter or early spring, to keep your hedge tidy and encourage healthy growth.
Coppicing is best every 3–5 years to rejuvenate the plants and encourage fresh growth.
Laying is a more long-term process, done about once every 10-20 years to maintain a strong, dense structure.

Why These Techniques Are Essential for a Thriving Hedge

Pruning, coppicing, and laying all contribute to a healthier, denser, and more attractive hedge. Regular pruning keeps your hedge in shape, while coppicing rejuvenates older plants and promotes new growth. Laying creates a thick, strong structure that will last for years. These techniques not only benefit the aesthetic and health of your hedge but also provide vital shelter and food for local wildlife, improving biodiversity in your garden.

A well-maintained native hedge supports birds, insects, and small mammals, offering them shelter, nesting spots, and a steady supply of food. By incorporating these techniques into your hedge care routine, you’ll help foster a thriving, sustainable environment right in your own backyard. Find out more about the environmental benefits of hedges here.

Ready to Get Started?

Now that you know the basics of pruning, coppicing, and laying, it’s time to start caring for your native hedging whips and hedges! These techniques will help your hedge thrive, providing beauty, privacy, and a safe space for wildlife for years to come. If you’re ready to plant or revamp your hedge, check out our range of native British hedging plants and get started today! 🌿