My own nuisance hedge

Jackie96

First time post (apologies if this is covered some where - but I've not found a related post).
We recently moved (Dec 2017) to a garden with over 200ft of hedgerow bordering farmland. Some privet, but mostly traditional hedgerow stock inc. Hawthorn. Taking a cue from the local farmer cutting the hedge in the lane, I cut it hard in February / March. (It was too tall and unruly). Now (July), it is at least 2ft taller than when I cut it !
And to cap it all, it's bellowing with bracken furn. I'm limited with time and energy. 
When is best to cut it back in order to get away with one cut per year and limit it's growth ?
And is there a way to get rid of the rampant furn ? It's such a mess, even for a country side hedge.
Thanks in advance to anyone with advice.

fidgetbones

 Cut it two feet lower than you want it to be. Do the cut in winter, not when birds are nesting. It will grow whether you cut it or not.  If you cut the bracken fern, and chop it, it makes good compost.

glasgowdan

You'll need a saw to cut it lower, a pole saw is ideal. I prefer 1x annual cuts to be done around August/September so yoy get a little growth to look better over winter.  But you'll have to accept it looking a bit scraggly if you only want to trim it once. 

Hostafan1

Maybe talk to the farmer and ask who cuts their hedges and ask if the might top yours at the same time?
We have something similar and the farmer tops ours free so he can see over the top from his tractor when he pulls up to the junction.

Jackie96

Thank you to every one with suggestions on controlling it's growth. Looks l like Early Autumn is the time to cut it, and cut it hard.
It's the Fern that makes it look such a mess, if only I could be rid of that :-)

fidgetbones

Bracken will not survive being mown or pulled once a week in summer.