Trimming conifers - is there a right/wrong time?

[Antony2008]

Good morning all.

We have several conifers (about 2.5m high) that are sorely in need of a trim but I don't want to cut them now and find that they go brown and die . I'm no gardener but something rings in my mind that you shouldn't cut a tree/plant 'when the sap is running', or something like that.
Am I being over cautious and can I take the shears out now or should I wait for winter when the trees are more dormant?

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[JohnEBoca]

I have a similar hedge and it gets a trim a couple of times in the middle months.

No problem with an electric hedge trimmer, but you don't want to cut right back, like you do a Privet Hedge.

Try to keep to the new green shoots, not the brown branches. Tops can be cut right back as you need to keep the hight down.

After a couple of months the tops will be full with new shoots poping through, these can then easily be trimmed back

 

[breezer]

2.5m high with an electric hedge trimmer, hmmmmm.

try a bow saw

 

[2scoops0406]

Yes, be wary of cutting back to dead wood, most conifers do not grow back from dead wood. But you can trim them anytime really.

 

[JohnEBoca]

2.5m high with an electric hedge trimmer, hmmmmm.

try a bow saw

Breezer, 35years I've trimmed the Confir hedge, with an electric trimmer. It would be unpractical to use a Bow Saw.

 

[Antony2008]

Thanks JohnEBoca, 2scoops0406 and breezer for your help and comments. I've borrowed my Mum's telescopic shears and will fettle the conifers tomorrow, all being well.

Thanks once again .

Antony