Cutting back Hedges

Woolsery

paperclap said:

Hi all,

I believe they’re privet hedges. But I’ll take a photo today to show.

If they are, they'll take severe cutting back in their stride.

ariarnia

not wanting to hijack but this is our hedge. its what i've always called 'privet' but no idea if that a general or specific. and the whole hedge has a really quickly growing vine through it and in some places brambles.  

it's 42 inches wide (on our side!) and needs to be cut really in half. would be grateful for  advice on what period if time to do this over and what tools to use (i'm thinking oh should get one of those mini chain saws from B&Q? then dig out the roots and stumps on our side of the boundry?)

Woolsery

ariarnia that is privet with some bindweed growing through it. Bindweed is a nuisance and needs dealing with as it will spread through the garden.Too late to do it this year though.

 Strong loppers and secateurs are needed to cut back established privet, just about any time of year except deep winter. You may find it hard to get roots out while leaving some for your neighbour, if that's the plan, I'm not sure what you mean by 'mini chain saw.' I have a small electric chain saw with a 14" bar, but I'd not use it for a privet hedge. A £7 mid-sized  hand saw will deal easily and safely with any chunky stems and do other jobs too.

Apodemus

I've tried using my electric pole saw on privet and it wasn't great - as Woolsery says, long handle loppers/secateurs and a hedge trimmer are better.

Woolsery

OK I've been known to hallucinate, but not on two cups of tea (!) so where did the other bit of this thread go?

droopsnoot

Woolsery said:

OK I've been known to hallucinate, but not on two cups of tea (!) so where did the other bit of this thread go?

I'd veered it off-topic and it was suggested that a separate thread might be more appropriate, which was correct. I deleted my posts, and the person who suggested I do so also deleted theirs, to tidy things up. Unless there are more removed posts that I missed completely.