I’m often asked about pruning hedges and when is the right time. The truth is, the answer depends on the type of hedge you have and what you want from it. A beech hedge behaves very differently to an escallonia or a leylandii conifer, and each needs a slightly different approach to pruning. Getting the timing right is not only important for the health of the hedge, but also for wildlife and the wider environment.

In Ireland, hedge cutting is also regulated by law. Under the Wildlife Act, it is prohibited to cut hedges or ditches between 1st March and 31st August each year. This is to protect nesting birds and other wildlife during the breeding season. Ecologically, this makes perfect sense. Hedges are nature’s motorways, providing food, shelter and safe nesting for countless species. Cutting at the wrong time can disturb or even destroy nests, so always bear this in mind when planning your garden maintenance.

With that important point made, let’s look at the best times of year to prune many of the most common hedges in Irish gardens.

Beech Hedge (Fagus sylvatica)

Beech is one of the most popular hedging plants in Ireland. It holds on to its brown leaves through winter, giving valuable screening year-round.

Best time to prune beech hedge: Late summer, ideally August but this is prohibited by the Wildlife Act so instead leave it until mid September.

Why: Beech bleeds if cut in spring, and pruning too late in winter leaves wounds slow to heal.  A light to moderate trim then helps to tidy and shape without triggering excessive soft growth that could be damaged by winter frosts.

  Cuts made in September/October will heal faster than those made in mid-winter, when the plant is completely dormant.

Tip: For a young beech hedge, trim the top and only lightly on the sides each summer to encourage bushiness at the base.

Holly Hedge (Ilex aquifolium)

Holly is slow growing but makes a beautiful, dense, wildlife-friendly hedge.

Best time to prune holly hedge: Late spring to early summer (May-June) but this is prohibited by the Wildlife Act so instead do so in autumn (September).

Why:    Holly growth is slowing by early autumn. A light to moderate trim then helps to tidy and shape without triggering excessive soft growth that could be damaged by winter frosts.

If berries matter to you (or for wildlife value): Do only a light tidy in September/October, just enough to neaten the hedge, while leaving as many berry-laden branches as possible.

  Cuts made in September/October will heal faster than those made in mid-winter, when the plant is completely dormant.

Tip: Avoid cutting hard into old wood, as holly is slow to regenerate from bare stems.

Escallonia Hedge

Escallonia is fast-growing, evergreen and loved for its clusters of pink, red or white flowers through summer.

• Option 1 – Late Spring/Early Summer (May–June): Light trim to tidy and encourage more flowering without removing too many buds. This timing keeps the hedge flowering well into summer. Bear in mind that it is prohibited to cut hedges at this time of year and if you do so (which I don’t encourage), please ensure that you are not disturbing any nesting wildlife
• Option 2 – Early Autumn (September–October): Harder prune to control size and keep the hedge dense. This removes some flowers but sets the hedge up neatly for the winter.

Tip: For the best of both worlds, do a very light tidy in early summer and a stronger shape-up in autumn.

Griselinia Hedge (Griselinia littoralis)

This is one of the most popular evergreen hedges in coastal areas, loved for its glossy apple-green leaves.

• First Prune – Early Spring - February: Light trim to neaten growth and encourage bushiness while the plant is in full growth.
• Main Prune – Early Autumn (September–October): Main prune to control size and leave the hedge tidy and compact for the winter months.

Tip: Avoid pruning in winter, as frost damage can set in on freshly cut stems.

Conifer Hedges (Leylandii and Others)

Fast-growing conifers such as Leyland cypress are often used for tall screens.

Best time to trim conifer hedge: Light trim in February and again in September, in similar manner to Griselinea hedge.

Why: Regular trimming prevents the hedge becoming overgrown. Once conifers are cut back into old brown wood, they will not re-shoot.

Tip: Trim little and often, don’t allow the hedge to get too tall before cutting.

Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

A vigorous evergreen with large glossy leaves, cherry laurel is often used for tall privacy hedges.

Best time to prune cherry laurel hedge: Light trim in February and again in September, in similar manner to Griselinea hedge.

Why: Avoid pruning in winter, as frost damage can set in on freshly cut stems. Trim little and often, don’t allow the hedge to get too tall before cutting.

Tip: Cutting with secateurs or loppers rather than shears avoids unsightly shredded leaves. Remove long shoots individually to maintain a natural look.

Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

This laurel is more compact and tidier than cherry laurel, with darker leaves and red stems.

Best time to prune Portuguese laurel hedge: Cut back to the desired size and shape during September. A light trim also in February if needed or desired.

Why: It responds well to shaping and stays neat with just one cut per year.

Tip: Excellent choice if you want a lower-maintenance laurel hedge.

Elaeagnus Hedge

Elaeagnus is hardy, salt-tolerant and excellent for coastal gardens. Its evergreen leaves have a silvery underside, and in autumn it produces small but highly fragrant white flowers that are loved by late pollinators.

• Light trim in Early Autumn (September): Light trim if the hedge needs containing, but be aware this will remove some of that year’s flowers.
• Main prune in Early Winter (late November - December): Best time for a fuller prune, once flowering has finished. This leaves the hedge neat for winter while preserving the autumn display.

Tip: Elaeagnus tolerates frost well, so pruning into early winter is safe, unlike some other evergreens.

Look out for the fragrant autumn flowers, avoid cutting heavily just before flowering if you want to enjoy the scent.

Pyracantha (Firethorn) Hedge

Pyracantha is grown for its white spring flowers, glossy leaves and masses of orange or red berries in autumn.

Best time to prune pyracantha hedge: 

September - October (after berries are visible): Do only a light tidy of wayward shoots. This keeps the hedge or wall-trained plant looking under control but preserves the berries for wildlife and autumn/winter colour.

Late Winter (Jan–Feb): Once berries have been eaten or fallen, do the main structural pruning. Thin out congested stems and shorten overly long shoots, but keep as much of last year’s wood as possible — because that’s where next year’s flowers (and berries) will form.

Late spring (May) after flowering, and again in late summer (August) if necessary.

Tip:

Train, don’t shear: Pyracantha is best treated as a wall shrub or trained hedge, so prune by hand rather than with hedge trimmers. This lets you control shape without cutting off fruiting spurs.

Renewal pruning: Every few years, cut one or two older stems right back in late winter to encourage strong young replacement growth.

Berry-conscious approach: Heavy pruning in September will strip away berries. Light touch in autumn, heavy shaping in late winter is the best balance.

Key Points to Remember

Respect the law: Never cut hedges between 1st March and 31st August in Ireland unless it’s for road safety or other exemptions under the Wildlife Act.

Think wildlife: Hedges are critical habitats for birds, insects and mammals. Cutting at the wrong time can disturb nests and reduce food sources.

Little and often: Regular light trimming is better than infrequent heavy pruning.

Know your hedge: Different species need different timings, don’t treat them all the same.

Final Word

Pruning hedges at the right time of year is about more than keeping them neat. It’s about ensuring the health of the plants, encouraging dense growth, and protecting the wildlife that depends on them. Whether it’s a beech hedge in a rural garden, a glossy Griselinia by the coast, or a Pyracantha along a boundary wall, each hedge plays its part in making our gardens and landscapes richer.

If you plan carefully, work with nature, and prune at the right time, your hedge will reward you with beauty, privacy and life for many years to come.