Our Services
Hedge Trimming
Precision hedge trimming, shaping and reduction for homes and businesses around Welwyn, by NPTC qualified arborists who plan every cut for healthy growth and a tidy finish.
About This Service
Hedges kept healthy, tidy and the right size
Hertfordshire Trees provides expert hedge trimming and shaping for hedges of all sizes, from formal yew and box to fast-growing leylandii and mixed native hedgerows. Work is carried out by NPTC-qualified tree surgeons who plan each job for plant health, boundary compliance and tidy kerb appeal. Safety, waste licensing and clear written quotes are standard.
We're tree surgeons based in Welwyn, serving Stevenage, Harpenden, St Albans and the surrounding area, and our hedge trimming in Welwyn and beyond covers everything from a once-a-year tidy to bringing a badly overgrown screen back under control. You can see every town we work in on our areas we cover page.
Garden hedge trimming and shaping, once or twice a year to keep a neat line
Boundary and roadside hedges cut back from paths, drives and neighbouring gardens
Height and width reduction of tall leylandii, laurel and conifer screens, staged over visits where needed
Formative pruning of young hedges, so they thicken from the base
Formal shaping and topiary tidy-ups for yew, box and other clipped hedges
Seasonal tidy-ups for homes, and regular hedge care for commercial sites
Why Hertfordshire homeowners trust us with their hedges
All hedge work is completed by NPTC‑qualified tree surgeons and Arboricultural Association members who understand species, timing and best practice.
Based in Welwyn, the team knows Hertfordshire soils and typical boundary issues, and works for both domestic and commercial clients.
Every job uses risk assessments, public liability cover and licensed waste removal. A site survey and written quote mean no surprises before work starts.
Nesting birds are protected by law, so we check every hedge before cutting and plan larger work for outside the main nesting season of March to August.
How It Works
1. Site survey & advice
We visit to inspect the hedge, check access, identify species and offer tailored pruning recommendations with a written quote.
2. Preparation & wildlife check
Jobs are planned with risk assessments, nesting-bird checks and the correct plant-health approach before any cutting starts.
3. Trim, tidy & restore
We carry out clean, accurate trimming or shaping, remove all arisings under our waste licence and leave the site safe and tidy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our services and process.
It depends on the hedge. Yew and beech are usually trimmed once a year in late summer, while fast growers such as privet and leylandii need two or three cuts between spring and late summer. Leylandii shouldn't be cut back into bare brown wood, as it won't regrow from there. Formative pruning of young hedges is best done in late winter. We always assess the species and avoid disturbance during the main nesting period (generally March to August) unless urgent work is required.
Yes. Hertfordshire Trees is licensed to carry waste and removes all arisings from site unless you request otherwise. We dispose of material responsibly and can chip brash on site where appropriate to save removal costs.
We regularly undertake staged reductions of tall, overgrown screens to bring them back to a manageable size while protecting plant health. Large reductions are planned across visits to avoid stressing the hedge and to promote healthy regrowth.
It depends on the hedge's height and length, how easy it is to reach both sides, how much waste it produces, and whether a big reduction needs more than one visit. A low garden hedge trimmed once a year is a short job, while a tall, overgrown leylandii screen may need access equipment and staged visits. We give you a written quote after the site survey, so you know the price before any work starts.
Routine trimming usually does not require permission, but protected hedgerows, conservation areas or hedges connected to trees with Tree Preservation Orders may have restrictions. Whatever the time of year, it's against the law to damage an active bird's nest. We check planning and protection issues during the survey and advise on any required licences or notifications.
For urgent safety cases such as storm damage or a hedge blocking a road or path, get in touch and tell us what's happened. We'll assess the situation and prioritise work where there is immediate risk to people or property.