Care and pruning
Rhododendron care: planting, pruning and feeding for healthy shrubs
Learn how to grow rhododendrons with our practical guide covering planting, watering, deadheading, pruning and common problems like yellow leaves.
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Care and pruning
Pieris japonica planting and care guide: how to grow Japanese andromeda successfully
Learn where and how to plant pieris japonica, the best soil and compost, plus pruning, pot growing and frost protection tips for Forest Flame and Mountain Fire.
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Care and pruning
When to trim Leylandii: a month-by-month guide for healthy hedges
Cut Leylandii two to three times a year, between April and August, to keep them thick, green and under control. Never cut into old brown wood.
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Care and pruning
When to trim a beech hedge: the simple two-trim year that keeps it neat and healthy
Trim beech hedges in late summer (August) and tidy up in early February if needed. A light twice-a-year routine keeps them dense, tidy and holding their winter leaves.
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Care and pruning
When to prune a laurel hedge: a month-by-month guide for UK gardens
Find out the best time to prune cherry and Portuguese laurel hedges, how to avoid shredded leaves, and what the law says about nesting birds.
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Care and pruning
Is laurel poisonous? What gardeners with pets and children need to know
Laurel hedging contains compounds that can release cyanide when parts of the plant are chewed or damaged. Find out which parts are risky, what symptoms to watch for, and how to garden safely.
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Care and pruning
When to cut hedges: the hedge cutting season explained
The hedge cutting season runs from spring to early autumn for most gardens, with nesting birds and species timing deciding the exact dates.
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Care and pruning
Looking after a newly planted hedge
Watering, weed control and sensible pruning help a newly planted hedge establish. Use this aftercare guide through its first growing seasons.
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