December gardening tips: overhaul a hedge
To really tackle an overgrown hedge, winter is the time to attack


All hedges have their best season for trimming, but when the day comes to reduce a hedge that's got out of bounds, winter is the time. This is a major dismantling job, which requires careful forethought followed by a big push. There is much to be said, especially with evergreens such as yew and holly, for tackling the job in annual stages-one side this year, the other next-in order to allow time for recovery. Once the desired outline is reached, clean out the bottom and get ready to water and mulch in the spring. Victory is at hand.
* Follow Country Life magazine on Twitter
* Give Country Life for Christmas and save up to 40% on a subscription
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by HRH The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.
-
White sand beaches, smuggler's coves, teeming wildlife and a ruined castle in a Scottish island that's on the market for the first time in almost a century
Just off the west coast of Scotland lies Shuna Island, a true playground of open spaces, natural beauty, wildlife, beaches and — yes — a castle. And it's looking for a new owner.
-
Can you feel the quiz tonight: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 17, 2025
The Lion King meets rhurbab and custard in today's quiz.