14/08/2025
Got a lot of new regulars this year, so I thought I'd upload a kind of calender/schedule to let both new and prospective customers know the best times to do things, and why I don't do things at certain times.
1. Hedges - you're ideally wanting two cuts a year, however one will do. I like to get them done in late july/august just to avoid nesting birds. I can cut at any time of the year, however I wont cut coniferous hedges (think Leylandii) between March and September, as they tend to be that dense that I wont find any nests until the cutter goes through them.
2. Lawns, turfing and re-seeding -
1. Reseeding - this can be carried out any time of the year barring winter. I prefer spring and summer to give the seed chance to germinate, as extremes of temperature will kill the seedlings off and ill just have to come back to re-sow. If you follow the provided care instructions you'll be fine!
2. Turfing - best done either early spring (although this is more expensive due to demand on suppliers) or late summer, up until early autumn. This is because the turf needs to be kept damp at all times to ensure rooting and healthy growth. You will see landscapers on new build estates putting it down in the middle of summer, but I take pride in my work and want the healthiest lawn possible ;)
3. Nests - if any nests are found during work, be it hedge cutting, clearance, or lawn renovation, all work will be suspended until the nesting animal has moved on. So far I have found wasps (ouch), bunnies, and a load of different birds. This isn't just because I'm some nature loving hippy (even though that is the case 🤣). My hands are tied by The Wildlife and Countryside Act (WACSA) and also the Wild Birds Act (WBA). Financially I can get a fine for this, and more importantly, ethically I cant do it.
4. Wildflowers - My favourite, if you would like a wildflower installation, I will need to test the soil beforehand to find the correct seed mix. Installation for the following spring will need to be sown between September and August. Native wildflower and grass seeds need a "shock" of frost to allow them to germinate the following year. They require cutting once a year and will look a bit messy until then, but the dead stems need to be left on as long as possible to ensure the seeds drop!
5. Spraying - Contraversial one, but ive had my licence for over a decade and its safe. Saying that, I always ask if there are bairns or pets as some of the herbicides I use can cause skin irritation, if youre not comfortable with me using them let me know. Herbicide spray is highly weather dependant too, so if its really windy, likely to rain, or too hot, I wont be able to do it, as it will be a waste of chemical, and in the case of wind or rain, it may run off and damage your beds.
6. Planting -
1. Potted plants - any time of the year once the risk of frost has cleared. As with wildflowers, I like to test the soil before putting anything in a new garden. This is just to ensure anything I put in has the best chance of growing to its full potential.
2. Hedging/trees - when the trees are dormant. Autumn/Winter, but exotics can be planted at certain times, if in doubt, ask :)
3. Spring and Summer bulbs - planted in autumn so they come up at the correct time, I like to do October and November before the first frost. The only exception to this is Crocus, I like to get them in for late September.
7. Invasive Species - The likes of H. mantegazzianum and R. Japonica are dealt with via stem injection and/or spray. As there's a bit of paperwork to deal with, it isn't cheap but im here if you need me.
8. Tree services - same as hedge planting, best done when the tree is dormant, over winter, as this will reduce the chances of infection on the tree, and let's be honest, chainsaw PPE is warm and I dont want to wear that lot in the summer 🤣.
9. Ponds - maintenance can be carried out any time of year, but best to avoid spring and summer, especially if there are any Red Book species (see WACSA) such as newts. Ideally for veg removal on large ponds I like to do them over winter.
