As soon as your hedges start to look a little unruly, it's only natural to want to trim them back into shape – but as spring settles in, you'll want to approach this particular task with caution.
The reason? Nesting birds. At this time of year, species such as robins, wrens and finches begin to collect twigs and other loose materials to build their nests. So, by cutting back your hedges, you risk obstructing the natural habitats of these charming birds.
With this in mind, it's vital to know exactly when to cut your hedges to protect those nesting birds. According to experts, it's best to give your hedges an adequate trim by spring, so that you can hold off on trimming them again until late August. This will ensure that wildlife remains safe and undisturbed right into the summertime.
Why You Should Stop Trimming Your Hedges in April
While hedge pruning might be an essential part of garden maintenance, it becomes a little more risky in the springtime.
The last thing any gardener wants to do is disturb wildlife, but you could end up doing just that if you regularly trim your hedges this month.
By April, many birds are busy building nests in preparation for raising their young. They'll be hunting for twigs, leaves and garden debris to use – so it's worth checking if there any materials hiding in your garden that could be harming backyard birds – but it's important to hold off on cutting your boundary plants, too.
'Native birds tend to nest in hedges from early spring through to late summer,' explains Drew Swainston, Content Editor at Homes & Gardens.
'During this period, gardeners must avoid cutting their hedges to eliminate the risk of interfering with nests, or, in extreme cases, destroying them.'
It's worth noting that nesting season varies depending on your location and climate, but general advice is to trim early and then leave your hedges for the next few months.
Why it's Important to Protect Bird Nests
'Spring is a crucial time for nesting birds, who often choose hedges for nests due to the great shelter they offer,' says Drew. 'Both chicks and eggs can be shielded from the weather, and they will also be protected from potential predators.'
With this in mind, stripping away foliage can leave birds and their chicks vulnerable to harm. Leaning into wild gardening and waiting to tend to your hedges will allow birds enough time time to build nests and raise their young in a safe environment.
'Cutting hedges during nesting season not only damages nests, but the disturbance gardeners cause by trimming can cause birds to abandon their nests, leaving the eggs or chicks to fend for themselves,' adds Drew.
However, there is another reason why you should pause hedge trimming at this time of year – and it's a rather important one.
'Disturbing or destroying active native bird nests is actually illegal under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the US,' explains Drew.
'If a nest is active – which is classed as a nest either being built or having eggs or chicks in it – gardeners can face penalties or heavy fines if they don’t wait to cut hedges until the chicks have left.'
It's a wise idea to consult local wildlife authorities if you're unsure whether there is an active nest on your property, but the general rule is to leave it be until nesting season is over – and this includes nests built inside hedges.
What to Shop
Keen to identify nesting birds in your yard? You'll need a powerful pair of binoculars like this one. Reviewers say they're lightweight and precise.
This smart bird feeder will auto-capture all visiting birds, allowing you to view photos and videos from your phone using a handy app.
Black oil sunflower seeds will help you attract a wide variety of birds. (They are, however, especially beloved by songbirds like horned larks).
These power-lever hedge shears will give you up to 2 times more cutting power than traditional single-pivot shears. The blades are serrated and rust-resistant.
With six different ports and perches, this feeder will help attract birds to your garden all year long. It features handsome copper accents, too.
Even if you won't be cutting your hedges for a while, spring is the perfect time to invest in new gardening gloves. These are thick but touchscreen-compatible.
Pausing hedge-trimming isn't the only crucial task to consider at this time of year; if you're looking for more tips, we asked experts exactly how to help birds during breeding season, and how to help garden birds when summer arrives.
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