When does the dormant season end?

[Sunflower86400]

Hello all and Happy New Year.

Now I know this will be a long shot, as it is about a new hedge that I planted in February last year. The reason I say long shot is because this hedge is in France and I know that there are a few members who live, or have houses, in France.

As said, I planted a new hedge made up of green beech and hornbeam whips which were about 12" to 18" high when planted. I pruned them immediately after planting them. And the supplier advised a pruning during the next dormant period. I had planned to visit our house and do this job in the middle of February '10 but now I can't go until the first week in April. I know the dormant season here ends about March and it maybe slightly earlier in my part of France as it's about 400 miles further south than here.

Will it be too late to prune then? I did ask the same question on a French gardening forum and was told by one to leave it until October and by another to leave it 2-3 years. The second opinion I'm in a little doubt about.

What do you think?

Regards.

[Two_Sheds]

You may want to read this: BTCV Handbooks Online

how, why and when to prune a new hedge.

[gojiberry]

If you pruned them on planting they shouldn't need pruning for at least 18 months which would be as one of your French opinion suggested next Oct. I definitely wouldn't prune this spring as you need to give the plants time to establish.

Ian

[Sunflower86400]

Thank you both for replying.

Ok, October it is. Thanks for the advice.

[TonyF]

Sunflower, I agree, we planted anew hedge last spring and pruned immediately, we left it in autumn and it now won't get a prune until next autumn.

Whilst some of the advice in UK gardening mags etc can be useful, I now look at what my French neighbours are doing and read the French magazines which usually have different timings for the different areas of France, determined by their meteorological definitions, temperate etc.

[basketcase]

[QUOTE=TonyF;588163]
Whilst some of the advice in UK gardening mags etc can be useful, I now look at what my French neighbours are doing and read the French magazines which usually have different timings for the different areas of France, determined by their meteorological definitions, temperate etc.[/QUOTE]

We could do with the same thing in British Magazines...

[Sunflower86400]

Thanks Tony.

That was what was going through my mind. Being further south and a bit (generally) warmer than here I wondered if the dormant season in my part of France would end a bit sooner than here. I afraid I haven't had much opportunity to observe the neighbours as I haven't been out there as much as I'd have liked.

Thanks for your response, I think that I will leave it now until October/November. As Gojiberry advised, it will give them a chance to establish themselves.

Thanks all.