Care and pruning
Practical rhododendron care advice covering planting, flowering times, pruning, deadheading and growing in pots. Get the best from your acid-loving shrubs with our straightforward guide.
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Care and pruning
Trim Leylandii two to three times a year between April and early September. Never cut into old brown wood or it will not regrow. Read our full care guide.
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Care and pruning
Ericaceous compost is a specialist growing medium for acid loving plants. Learn which shrubs need it, how to test soil pH, and simple ways to keep lime-hating plants healthy in pots and borders.
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Care and pruning
Cherry laurel grows 30 to 60cm a year, reaching 5 to 8 metres tall if left unpruned. Portuguese laurel is slightly slower. Learn about growth rates, sensible hedge heights and how to speed up establishment.
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Care and pruning
Trim a beech hedge in late August for a single annual cut, or in early June and again in late August for a formal finish. Hard pruning is best done in late winter.
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Care and pruning
Plan hedge cutting around species, growth and nesting birds. A month-by-month guide covers legal rules, best timing and safe techniques for common garden hedges.
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Care and pruning
Prune cherry and Portuguese laurel hedges in late spring or early summer after the first growth flush, with a lighter trim in late summer if needed. Avoid autumn cuts that expose soft shoots to frost damage.
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Care and pruning
Laurel hedging is popular, but all parts of cherry and Portuguese laurel contain toxins. Learn which parts are harmful, the risks to dogs, children and livestock, and how to handle clippings safely.
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Care and pruning
Give your planted hedge the right aftercare in its first two growing seasons. Covers watering, feeding, weed control and early pruning.
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