Alan Titchmarsh says ‘danger is too much to contemplate’ in urgent warning to gardeners

Alan Titchmarsh has issued a warning to those who are thinking of trimming their hedges before spring arrives to avoid disturbing nesting birds, as March marks the start of the breeding season

There’s only about a week left to get that hedge trimmed, Alan says

The ideal time to trim your hedges is between September and March 1, so if you still need to tidy up your privet, there’s no time to waste. However, warns the nation’s favourite gardener Alan Titchmarsh, it’s not something you should rush into without a little preparation.

Alan stresses that a battery-operated hedge trimmer is a far better bet than the old style with a trailing cable: “This one is battery operated,” he says in his latest gardening YouTube video, “so much better than the ones which are operated with electric cable. The danger of cutting through them is just too much to contemplate”.

The spacing of your hedge-trimmer’s teeth will give a good indication of the thickness of twigs that it will successfully cut through, with wider spacing being better for big jobs and a trimmer with finer-spaced teeth being ideal for tricky topiary. “Generally speaking, anything up to ¼ of an inch is fine on most of them,” Alan says.

Alan recommends investing in proper protective kit [stock image](Image: Corixa Communications)

But, he warns, a piece of kit that can cut through a thick twig can cut through a number of other things too: “They can easily have your finger off in spite of the fact they’re only driven by battery,” Alan says.

“So be safety aware,” he adds. “It’s not overkill to wear a helmet with a visor. Even tiny leaves that fly up and go into your eye can mean time in A&E.

“Ear defenders will protect your ears from the continuous noise. And the gloves which have been specially developed for use with things like this are important too. Get yourself well kitted out and then you can do a good job and be safe.”

A visor is especially important when you’re trimming taller hedges, Alan says. With all your protective kit on, the expert jokes, “you may end up looking like a Stormtrooper from Star Wars, but it’s all in a good cause.”

“Now is a great time to prune deciduous hedges, hedges that lose their leaves,” Alan says, “particularly because the birds haven’t quite started nesting yet. And that’s vital. Once the birds are starting nesting, stay away. You don’t want to disturb them.

Alan Titchmarsh shared the warning on his YouTube channel(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)

“Evergreen hedges, it depends which hedge you’re clipping. Yew is best clipped around about September or October when its growth spurt has finished.”

By contrast, most experts say a Laurel hedge will grow best if it’s trimmed in July or August. Generally, though, you can prune most evergreen shrubs just after any risk of frost has passed, and before growth has started in earnest.

Alan adds: “When it comes to weather, try to avoid cutting when it’s wet, particularly with things like box. Box blight can be transmitted much more readily when the foliage is wet.

“Also, avoid frosty days because the freshly-cut ends on stems won’t appreciate being frozen solid.”

Alan says that you’re better off getting a hedge trimmer that extends to catch higher branches, rather than risking a ladder, which can be wobbly on damp ground.