Cutting back Hawthorn whips

Mikekally

Hi there, we have a 5-6m stretch of Hawthorn whips we planted Feb 2017 along our front boundary picket fence. Unfortunately they're all very bare at the base and all the bushy growth is almost 2ft from groundlevel. Am I OK to cut them right back almost to ground level now, and hope the root development is enough to help them sprout new bushier growth from the base in spring? If so, should I do this now before frost/snow sets in, or wait till spring? Thanks in advance

Liriodendron

Yes, you're fine to cut them back really hard - I think I might wait until late winter.  You can be pretty brutal, and your hedge will thicken up beautifully.

nutcutlet

I wouldn't cut them right to the ground, I'd leave 3 or 4 buds 

Liriodendron

Thanks, Nut.  Forgot to say that.

Mikekally

Thanks @Liriodendron @nutcutlet I'll leave it a while so - although if I cut above the 3rd or 4th bud I'd still be a good foot from the ground, they're very bare near the base, no nodes at all. They must've grown fast and tall

Dovefromabove

When they’re bigger you could ‘lay’ the hedge ... that’d give you plenty of coverage at the base. 

Mikekally

Will do @Dovefromabove! I'm going to try cutting them back hard to the 3rd bud as suggested above, maybe in Feb. Hopefully that'll do the job, but I know I'll probably have to lay them in another 7-8 years or so to keep them full at the base. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone 😊

Obelixx

When we planted our hawthorn whips they were at least 2 to 3' tall but I cut them back to 9" and they made a very fine hedge.   Cutting your back to 3 or 4 buds now, before the sap starts to rise in January should give you a good thickening effect.    Ours grew 6' easily each year so the second year we cut it back to 3' high and then kept it trimmed to 6' high and cut back side growth to give us the thick hedge we were after. 

Mikekally

Great thank you so much @Obelixx that's exactly how we want ours to get eventually 

Paul B3

Obelixx

6' of growth in a year???......what were you feeding them on??

Obelixx

Very fertile soil and lots of Belgian rain.   Didn't expect them to grow that fast but they did and we ended up with a wonderfull thick and healthy hedge that became a sparrow conference centre and their refuge from the sparrowhawk.  Very busy hedge.