When can you cut hedges?

When it comes to hedging, most cutting is carried out during the spring and summer months. However, we understand that some people take on new properties and growing conditions can vary also, so we can carry out hedge cutting at any time of the year. When carried out during the winter months, we typically recommend simple trimming and pruning to tidy the hedge up.

Is hedge cutting illegal?

No hedge cutting isn’t illegal. However, if your hedge has an active bird's nest in it, then you will be unable to cut it until the nest has been cleared or abandoned. Nesting typically happens between March and July, so we will need to check whether any birds are nesting before we cut your hedges and privet back.

Can you cut a privet hedge right back?

Privet is one of the toughest types of hedges and it can easily handle what is called hard pruning. If you are wanting to cut your hedges right back, then it’s advised that one side is done one year and then the opposite side is done the next year. This is help to prevent damage occurring and it allows the privet to recover before the next cut.

How do you care for hedges?

During the first few years of being planted, hedges only require minimal pruning to keep them maintained. Once your hedges are fully embedded then it’s important to keep them maintained yearly. Depending on the type of hedge you have it will need trimming between one and four times per year.

How do I get a quote for hedge care?

If you’d like a quote for hedge care, then all you need to do is call us on 0121 339 5070. Alternatively, fill in our contact form or drop us an email and one of our team will get back to you.

Where to start with a room refresh: a practical guide for your home

F.B & Sons Interiors

13 hours ago

3 min read

A room can feel ready for a change long before you know what that change should be. Perhaps the furniture never quite fits, the lighting feels harsh or a busy family space has stopped working for everyday life. Before buying paint or ordering a sofa, take a step back. A little planning can help you spend on the things that make the greatest difference.

Start with how you want to live

Write down three things the room needs to do better. That might mean somewhere comfortable to read, storage for toys or a dining table that does not block the route to the garden. Then list what already works. A much-loved chair, inherited cabinet or favourite artwork can give the new scheme its starting point.

Think about everyone who uses the space, including pets. Useful design starts with your routines, not simply a photograph you would like to copy.

Measure before you make decisions

Sketch the room and note its dimensions, door openings, windows, radiators and sockets. Measure furniture you want to keep and check the routes through the room. Include doorways, stairs and delivery access before ordering anything large.

You do not need a polished drawing to begin a conversation. Clear measurements and photographs from each corner are much more useful than a perfect sketch with important details missing. Flag anything you are unsure about so it can be checked before purchases or work are agreed.

Set a budget for the whole refresh

Separate your budget into design, furniture and furnishings, decorating or other physical work, and delivery or installation. Allow some room for unexpected costs rather than committing every pound to the first items you find.

Decide where quality matters most to you and what can wait. Keeping a sound dining table or reusing existing furniture can free money for better lighting or a finish you will enjoy every day. Ask for a clear scope and quotation before committing to work; a starting price cannot account for every room or requirement.

Look at light before choosing colour

Notice how daylight moves through the room and how it feels in the evening. Try paint samples on more than one wall and look at fabric samples beside the pieces you plan to retain.

Consider lighting for different activities: general light for moving around, task lighting for reading or working, and softer lamps for winding down. If the scheme needs electrical alterations, include appropriate professional advice and installation in the plan. A concept drawing is not an electrical specification.

Choose the right level of help

Sometimes a short advice appointment is enough to help you move forward. Other rooms benefit from a more developed concept, bringing together a mood board, layout and product selection. Visualisation can help when you find it difficult to picture the result.

A design concept and a physical Room Refresh are different services. Decorating, materials, installation and other practical work need their own agreed scope and quotation. Explore our residential interior design services to see where you might start.

Plan purchases and the next step

Tell us which existing pieces must stay. For new purchases, we can help shape a selection through approved suppliers, with availability, pricing and ordering arrangements confirmed before commitment. If you prefer to source items yourself, agree the responsibilities, delivery dates and any effect on the programme first.

Based in Rubery, we work across the West Midlands and can discuss mainland UK projects by quotation. A video appointment may suit the initial conversation or some design services, avoiding travel for that appointment. Physical work may still require a site assessment. Check our areas and travel options, then tell us about your space. Start with your priorities; the details can follow.

F.B & Sons, Interiors