Yes, and it is one of the best ways to recover ground in a small garden. The decision to settle first is whether the hedge stays.
Yes. Either cut the hedge back and fence behind or in front of it, or remove the hedge entirely and fence on the cleared line.
Removing it recovers considerably more ground — a mature hedge occupies a metre or more of depth, where a fence takes centimetres. That is the real argument in a compact garden.
| Option | Ground recovered | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Cut the hedge back, keep it, no fence | Some | Still needs cutting; no hard boundary |
| Cut back and fence alongside | Some | One hedge face becomes hard to reach |
| Remove the hedge, fence the line | The most | Loses screening height and wildlife value |
| Remove and fence with planting in front | Most, then some | Best compromise for many gardens |
| Keep hedge, no change | None | No cost either |
Tell us what you need and we will arrange a free quotation.
This is general guidance rather than legal advice; boundary responsibility comes from your title deeds.
See what our garden fencing service covers in Hengrove, or read more about the service across the areas we work in.
Yes. Either cut the hedge back and fence alongside it, or remove the hedge and fence on the cleared line. Removing it recovers considerably more ground.
A mature hedge occupies a metre or more of depth plus root spread, dry shadow and access space. A fence takes the thickness of a post.
Yes, but the hedge face behind the fence becomes hard to cut, grows against the timber and shortens the fence's life. Leave a workable gap if you can.
Height above fence limits, screening from upstairs windows, wildlife value, sound absorption and softness. Planting in front of the new fence recovers some of it.
Cutting it down, removing a substantial volume of material, and dealing with stumps and roots by grinding or excavation. The soil along the line will be exhausted.
Autumn or winter suits hedge removal, and nesting birds are protected from around March to August so the hedge must be checked first.
Often not. Once years of growth comes off, the line frequently turns out to be elsewhere — check the title plan and agree it before fixing posts.
Frequently, and usually in poor condition, because a hedge keeps timber permanently damp.
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