Throughout the growing season the Association and our landscaping team at Upkeep receive numerous queries regarding the size, shape and reach of hedges, shrubbery and trees in the local community.

Whilst the Garden Maintenance service exists to enhance the local environment it is also in place to ensure that vegetation does not encroach onto pathways or interfere with buildings or overhead services and as such you may from time to time see our teams carrying out essential works during the summer growing season.

However, industry leading research and guidance insists that the optimum time to reduce, trim and or remove shrubbery, trees and hedges is in the winter. Not only does this reduce the number of cuttings which need to be disposed of but ultimately when Shrubs are in bloom and flowering it enhances the local environment and brightens up the area.

Research suggests that such works are best done in winter as the bare stems make the job of shaping shrubs, hedges and trees and spotting diseased growth much easier. The benefits of carrying out this type of work in winter also include.

• Promoting summer blooms – Whilst shrubs and plants may not look aesthetically shaped during the summer month’s flowering plants and shrubs are in full bloom and enhance the local landscape adding colour and vibrancy to the community. They are also essential for improving biodiversity improving soil health and are essential insect and animal habitats.
• Shaping – Winter is the ideal time to assess and modify the shape and structure of almost any deciduous shrub whose canopy has become lopsided or whose branches are overcrowded in the centre.
• Promoting health – Diseased branches should be pruned out to maintain the health of many trees and shrubs, removing any dead, dying or diseased branches.
• Aiding vigour – Pruning in this way removes weaker stems to promote stronger growth of existing stems, or removes existing stems altogether to encourage fresh, new growth.
• Rejuvenating tired shrubs – It’s a good idea to assess all your shrubs in winter, looking out for general tiredness and lack of vigour. This can often be attributed to hunger, caused by overcrowding and allows our team to remove problem growth such as ‘tree saplings’

As well as the above The ‘Bird Nesting Season’ officially runs from February until August and it is recommended that vegetation works (tree or hedge cutting) or site clearance should be done outside of the nesting season (the Association & Upkeep must aim to avoid causing an impact to nesting birds and infringement of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and breaching the European Habitats Directive 1992/Nesting Birds Directive.

As a general rule, it should be assumed that birds will be nesting in trees, and such we are responsible for assessing, recording and confirming that any works carried out in the management of trees and other vegetation has not disturbed actively nesting birds.

In addition to the above Upkeep undertakes a program of tree works on behalf of the Association which includes;

• Tree Removal – This may include the removal of a dead or decaying tree including the removal of its stump
• Crown Thinning – Crown thinning involves the removal of secondary branches which effectively balances the tree without altering its size or shape
• Crown Lifting – This involves the removal of the lower branches to lift the height of the tree ‘crown’ effectively allowing for greater clearance between the ground and the lower branches
• Crown Reductions – This involves trimming all branches and where necessary reducing the size of the tree ‘crown’
• Formative Pruning – The purpose of formative pruning is to assist a young tree develops into a stronger and better shaped tree

For more information on Winter Landscape works call Upkeep on 0141 764 3793.