It may not yet feel like it just yet, but summer is slowly winding down. Look closely, and you'll spot the signs: crisper mornings, shortening days and garden life beginning to slow.
Flowers are starting to fade and many young birds have left their nests, making August an ideal time for hedge trimming, according to horticulturist Monty Don.
Until 2024, the beloved gardener and broadcaster shared monthly gardening tips on his personal website. While he no longer updates it, the site remains a treasure trove of advice for the entire growing season.
Hedge cutting featured in every August advice column from 2019, when he began publishing on the site, to 2024, when the series came to an end.
"It is safe now to trim hedges in the knowledge that the vast majority of nesting birds have fledged," he wrote each year.
In the UK, young birds typically fly the nest, or fledge, between May and July, meaning August is generally a safer time for cutting back hedges and dense shrubbery.
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That said, this summer has been unusually hot and dry, which can shift natural cycles. For that reason, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) advises waiting until September or even October, if possible, to be on the safe side.
"Some birds have two, sometimes three broods, and with a long hot summer, there’s the possibility that some birds are still using a hedge nest in August," Helen Moffat, a spokesperson for the organisation, tells Country Living.
"If you decide to proceed now, check the hedge thoroughly before cutting. Monitor for a day or two before undertaking the job, and watch for any birds exiting and shortly returning to the same spot, which is a sure sign they have a nest in there."
Once you've made sure it's safe to trim, follow Monty's expert advice: "Summer pruning results in slower, less vigorous regrowth than a winter trim, so clip hedges to the height and shape that you wish them to remain for the rest of the year," he writes.
"Start with the sides, making sure that you have a slight 'batter' or outward slope from the top to the bottom. This ensures that the lower section is not shaded by the top growth - which is always more bushy as it gets more light – and the hedge remains fully "furnished" right down to the ground.
"Finally, cut the top, using a string strung between canes as a guide. Deciduous hedge trimmings can be mown and added to the compost heap and evergreen ones taken to the council green waste."
A little patience and careful observation, then, can help ensure your hedge trim doesn't disturb any late nesters. With a careful check, an August trim can leave topiaries looking neat and well-shaped as the garden moves towards autumn.
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Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
