Hedge cutting is legal in Ireland until 28 February, the National Parks and Wildlife Service reminds landowners, and the window applies to private gardens as much as to farms. With Storms Austen and Boelo having brought down more than 70 trees across Cork and Waterford alone on 22 and 23 October, tree surgeons and garden contractors are heading into their busiest stretch before Christmas.

Hedge cutting is open until 28 February

Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 bans cutting, grubbing, burning or otherwise destroying vegetation in any hedge or ditch from 1 March to 31 August, to protect nesting birds. The NPWS recommends doing hedge work between 1 September and 28 February, and says suspected breaches can be reported to a local NPWS office or Garda station.

The ban covers gardens: Birdwatch Ireland, quoted by Agriland, said it applies to private gardens "as much as it does to farms and the wider countryside". Section 70 of the Road Traffic Act 1993 lets overgrowth that is a road safety hazard be cut at any time of year, the Irish Farmers Journal notes.

The NPWS cites a Tipperary landowner fined €1,000 in 2021 for cutting about 640 m of hedgerow in August, with a 5% cut to his Basic Farm Payment on top. It brought 31 section 40 prosecutions that year.

Storm damage: trees, fences and what to check

Storm Austen hit Munster and Leinster overnight on 22 to 23 October, with orange warnings for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin, according to the Irish Examiner. The Irish Times live blog counted more than 40 fallen trees and branches across Cork county and more than 30 incidents of trees blocking roads and footpaths in Waterford, with up to 60 mm of rain in parts of Cork.

Storm Boelo followed on 24 and 25 October with orange wind warnings for Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo, and Met Éireann warned of "damage to already weakened structures", fallen trees and displaced debris. Around 5,000 premises were still without power on the evening of 25 October, mostly in the north-west, Insurance Business reported.

Insurance Business's claims advice after the two storms: note which storm caused which damage, since two events can mean two excesses; photograph everything before clearing; and keep receipts for emergency work such as making a fence or roof safe.

Tree surgeons: what to ask before you book

A tree leaning after a storm, a split limb over a shed, or a root plate lifting a fence is a job for a tree surgeon with climbing gear and insurance, not a handyman with a chainsaw. Ask for proof of public liability insurance, whether the price includes removing the timber and chippings, and whether they need to contact ESB Networks if the tree is near a line.

Where a mature tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order or a condition on your planning permission, check with the council before any felling. Report trees on ESB wires to ESB Networks and keep well clear.

Garden rooms: 30 m² without planning since July

The Planning and Development (Exempted Development) Regulations 2026, in force since 27 July 2026, raised the exempt size for a detached garden building such as a home office, gym or studio from 25 m² to 30 m², according to MyHome. The exempt rear extension limit rose from 40 m² to 45 m², and a detached self-contained "granny flat" of up to 45 m² is exempt subject to Building Regulations, siting, access and registration conditions.

Budget 2027 added a tax angle: from January 2027 rent-a-room relief rises to €16,000 tax-free and will cover newly installed detached auxiliary dwellings, the Irish Times reported. Building Regulations, fire safety, drainage and any restrictive conditions on the original house still apply to all of these.

Winter jobs: leaves, gutters and lawns

Wet leaves on paths, steps and patios are a slip hazard and should be cleared; leaves on beds can be left or bagged for leaf mould. Blocked gutters and downpipes after the October rain send water down walls and into foundations, so a gutter clean now, before the first hard frost, is the cheapest job on the list.

This is also the season for pruning deciduous trees and shrubs, lifting and dividing perennials, planting bare-root hedging and trees, and the last lawn cut on a dry day with the blades raised.

What it means for you

If you have a hedge or tree that needs cutting, book it now for November or early December: the legal window closes on 28 February and contractors fill up before Christmas. For storm damage, get two written quotes, photograph the damage first, and never pay cash up front to a cold-caller offering to clear trees or fix fences.

If you are thinking about a garden room, check the 30 m² exemption against your remaining garden space and the conditions on your house's original planning permission before you order; the builder should quote to Building Regulations. You can find local tree surgeons, gardeners and landscapers on Locufy.

For providers: quote hedge and tree work with a stated date before 28 February, include timber removal and chipping as a line item, and carry proof of insurance to every storm job. Expect gutter clearing, leaf clearance and fence repairs to dominate November enquiries, and tell customers that garden rooms over 30 m² or any granny flat still need the paperwork.

Key dates

• 1 September to 28 February: hedge cutting permitted under the Wildlife Act
• 1 March 2027: closed season for hedge cutting and burning begins
• 27 July 2026: 30 m² garden room and 45 m² extension exemptions in force
• January 2027: rent-a-room relief rises to €16,000 and covers detached auxiliary dwellings

Sources

• gov.ie / NPWS — Reminder on hedge cutting and the law
• Agriland — Hedge-cutting ban applies to gardens as much as it does to farms
• Irish Farmers Journal — Hedge-cutting season Ireland: dates, rules and hedgerow management tips
• The Irish Times — Storm Boelo latest: Ireland braces for 'damaging' second storm as Met Éireann issues new orange warnings
• Irish Examiner — All eyes turn to Storm Boelo as fresh orange and yellow warnings issued for weekend
• Insurance Business — Storm Boelo: back-to-back storms test claims and cover
• MyHome.ie — New planning regulations come into effect on Monday
• The Irish Times — Budget 2027 main points

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