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A 42-metre beech hedge brought back into shape

An older beech hedge along a villa lot in Professorsstaden had grown out in both height and width. We lowered the profile, straightened the sides, and locked in two trims per season.

Hedge TrimmingProfessorsstaden, LundCompleted August 2025

A freshly cut lawn after a pass with a ride-on mower

Professorsstaden in southern Lund is defined by turn-of-the-century villas and well-kept 1960s houses with long, formal beech hedges (Fagus sylvatica) along the streets around Tornavägen. Our client on a quiet side street wanted to restore the entire front beech hedge after two seasons without proper shape pruning, without stressing the mature plants.

On our first visit we measured the hedge at 2.8 metres, roughly 60 cm above the desired height. The inside showed clear brown patches where light did not reach, and a neighbouring maple shaded the northern section. The base was thinner than the top, a classic sign of a hedge not tapered in time.

We chose to lower the hedge in two stages within the same season, with the main cut in early August when beech has finished its second flush. The sides were lightly battered outwards at the bottom so light reaches the base, which beech tolerates very well since it readily breaks new growth from older wood given light and balanced feeding.

The hedge is now part of a recurring maintenance agreement with one main cut and one light shape trim per year. The Swedish RUT tax relief of 50 percent on labour brings the fixed annual cost to a level most homeowners in Professorsstaden recognise from other garden services in Lund.

What we found on site

  • Hedge stood at 2.8 m, around 60 cm taller than the client wanted.
  • Clear brown patches inside from two seasons of light starvation.
  • Base thinner than the crown, a classic missed-taper symptom.
  • A neighbouring maple shaded the north end during the morning.
  • No signs of fungal disease or aphids, healthy shoots in the top.

How we approached the work

  1. Stage 1: Top line lowered in 25 cm steps to avoid stressing the beech.
  2. Stage 2: Shape cut in early August, after the second flush of growth.
  3. Sides lightly battered outwards at the base so light reaches it.
  4. Light internal thinning to open the hedge for air circulation.
  5. Final edge cut along the pavement and the perennial border.
  6. All clippings hauled away to the Lund Norra recycling centre.
The hedge looks the way it did when we moved in back in 1998, and we did not have to think about a single detail.

Anna, villaägare i Professorsstaden

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FAQs about hedge trimming in Professorsstaden

Short, honest answers to what we get asked every week. If yours is not here, just call, we are happy to help.

  1. 01When should a beech hedge be cut to grow dense?
    Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is best cut in late July or early August, once the second flush of growth has finished. Cutting then gives four to six weeks of calm, compact regrowth before dormancy. Cut too early and the beech pushes new soft shoots that do not have time to lignify before frost. We always take a light shape trim in June if needed, but the main cut sits in August every year.
  2. 02Can an old beech hedge be lowered without damaging it?
    Yes, beech tolerates hard lowering surprisingly well, but it must be staged. We never lower more than around a third in one season, and always after the hedge has shown normal spring vigour. Mature beech readily breaks new shoots from older wood given light, water and a light April feed. That is precisely why beech is so common in Professorsstaden, it is genuinely very forgiving.
  3. 03How does the RUT tax relief work for hedge cutting in Lund?
    Hedge cutting qualifies for the Swedish RUT tax relief, and we deduct 50 percent of the labour cost directly on the invoice. You receive the full tax deduction up to the annual ceiling per household member set by Skatteverket. We handle all reporting to Skatteverket on your behalf. Haulage and any materials are not RUT-eligible, but they are a very small part of a normal beech hedge job in Professorsstaden.
  4. 04How often does a formal beech hedge need cutting?
    An established beech hedge needs one proper shape cut per year, in August, plus a light tidy in June if you want crisp lines all summer. Young hedges under six years old prefer two cuts per season to thicken from the start. For clients in Professorsstaden who want the sharpest lines on the block we recommend a simple annual contract with two visits, which is nearly always enough.
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