Tree hedging is what we call the work when a hedge or screen has grown past what a stepladder and a garden trimmer can handle. Most people ring up and call it hedge trimming, which is fine — it is the same job by a more familiar name.
What it costs comes down to how long the run is, how tall it has got, what the plants are, how easy it is to reach, and whether the screen needs a lighter reshaping cut or a substantial reduction.
A short border along the front path is a different job from a screen that has grown well above the fence line. That difference shows up in the quote.
There is no set price for a hedge. Length, height, species, access and how far past its size the screen has grown are what move the number. Send photos of the whole run to get the quote started; if we need to see it first, we will let you know.
What you are actually paying for
A hedging quote should explain the cutting, the green-waste handling and the cleanup included. Depending on the job, it can cover:
- trimming and shaping back to an even line
- bringing the height down if it has got away
- pulling the sides back off paths, fences, driveways and the boundary
- collecting, chipping and carting the clippings
- the cleanup described in the quote
Longer runs, taller growth and sections that are hard to reach all add time.
What moves the number
How long the run is
Length is the most straightforward driver. A short border takes less cutting and less green-waste handling than a long boundary screen.
How tall it has got
A low hedge can be done off the ground with hand tools. Once a screen is above head height it may need ladders, a lift or long-reach tools, and that changes both the time and the gear. That is the point where it stops being garden maintenance and becomes tree hedging.
What the plants are
Some hedge plants trim easily. Others are woodier, slower to cut through and heavier to handle. The plants also affect how much can reasonably come off:
- Lilly pilly — fast, dense screening growth
- Murraya — tight growth often kept as a formal screen
- Viburnum — dense and leafy, makes a fair amount of waste
- Photinia — vigorous growth that can spread beyond the shape you want
- Ficus — grows hard and turns into a full tree if it is left
- Box hedge — compact growth used for lower formal hedges
How we reach it
An open front boundary with clear ground either side is quick. A hedge hard against a fence, down a narrow side passage, on a slope or tucked in behind the pool takes longer and means more handling by hand.
A lighter cut or an overgrown screen
A screen trimmed before it becomes badly overgrown usually needs less cutting and produces less waste than one that has been left for a long time.
Where the clippings go
Some quotes include taking everything away and leaving the site clean. Others leave the clippings for you to deal with. If you want it all gone, check the quote says so.
Where the money actually goes on a tall screen
It surprises people that the cutting is often not the biggest part. On a long, tall run, a lot of the time goes into:
- setting up safe access along the whole length
- working both sides where the neighbour's side is part of the job
- getting the clippings out from behind the screen rather than just dropping them
- chipping and loading what can be a genuinely large volume of material
- cleaning up the beds, paths and lawn underneath
That is why a tall hedge and a low one of the same length are not close to the same price.
When a screen needs attention
It depends on the plant, how quickly it grows and how sharp you want it to look. Ask for a quote when the top has passed the height you want, the sides are pushing into a path or boundary, or the screen is losing its shape.
A screen that has grown well beyond its shape needs more cutting and makes more waste than a lighter trim, so leaving it longer does not usually save anything overall.
When a hedge needs more than a trim
If a screen has gone bare inside or thinned at eye level, a trim on its own may not fix it. A larger reduction may need to be staged where the plants cannot handle all the work at once.
Not every plant responds to a hard cutback the same way, and a badly overgrown screen sometimes needs some pruning inside it before it can be reshaped at all. Send photos to help us understand the screen; if it needs to be seen before we can quote, we will tell you.
Why the cheapest quote is not always the cheapest job
A low hedge price sometimes means the waste removal, the real height of the job, proper shaping rather than a rough cut, or the cleanup has not been priced in. Compare what is actually included before you pick on price alone.
What a good quote tells you
Before you say yes, check that it explains:
- what is being trimmed — the top, the sides, or both
- whether bringing the height down is included
- whether the clippings are taken away
- how the crew is reaching the taller sections
- what result the quoted cut is intended to achieve
How to get a proper price faster
Send photos showing:
- the full length of the run
- how tall it is against the fence or the building behind it
- any problem spots — bare patches, overgrowth, dieback
- what the access is like on both sides
That helps us understand the height, length and likely waste. If we need to see the hedge before quoting, we will let you know.
Common questions
Is it charged by the metre or by the hour?
Pricing methods vary. The total still comes back to length, height, access, the plants and how much waste comes off. Ask for the price and the inclusions in writing.
Can I save money doing it myself?
For a low hedge you can reach comfortably off the ground, a decent trimmer and an afternoon is fine. Once it is above head height, needs a ladder, or makes more waste than your bin will take, it is worth handing over.
Does the price include shaping?
Depends on the quote. A basic trim brings the hedge back to a clean line. Tapering, rounding or anything more detailed takes longer. Say what finish you want when you ask for the price.
Is there a best time of year?
It depends on the plants, how much you want removed, their condition and whether wildlife is using the screen. Ask about timing when you request the quote rather than relying on one season for every hedge.
Do I need council approval to cut a hedge back hard?
It can apply. Established screening plants can fall under local tree or vegetation rules, especially if you are reducing them substantially or taking them out. Check the current requirements for the address before a heavy cutback.
What to do next
If you are comparing hedge quotes, read what is included as carefully as the price. A quote that covers how they are reaching it, where the waste goes and what the finish will look like is easier to trust than a lower number that leaves all that vague.
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