A well-kept hedge shields you from view, wind and noise, and gives a garden structure. Left unattended, it thickens, thins out at the base and ends up spilling over onto the neighbour’s land or the public road. On SOS Travaux, you describe your project online and your request is passed on to tradespeople and companies in the region, who contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote.
What hedge trimming covers
Hedge trimming brings together several jobs that are often confused. It is worth telling them apart, because they do not require the same equipment or the same amount of time.
- Maintenance trimming: the sides and top of the hedge are evened out to keep its shape and density.
- Renewal pruning: on a hedge left untended for a long time, a more severe cut helps it grow back from the base. Not all species tolerate it, notably some conifers that do not regrow from old wood.
- Reduction in height or width: the hedge is brought back to acceptable dimensions for the view, sunlight or the neighbours.
- Removal and shredding of green waste, often as heavy to handle as the trimming itself.
- Grubbing up or replacing a diseased or thinning hedge, which already counts as other garden work.
The species make a great difference. Thuja, cherry laurel, hornbeam, beech, box or mixed country hedges each have their own growth rate and tolerance to cutting. A reliable professional starts by identifying what is in front of them before picking up the hedge trimmer.
When to hand your hedge over to a professional
Many owners trim a low hedge themselves. Several situations nevertheless justify calling a company:
- the hedge is tall and can no longer be worked from the ground; ladders or platform lifts expose you to falls;
- it runs alongside a road, a pavement or a railway line, raising questions of visibility and safety;
- it has not been maintained for a long time and needs renewal pruning;
- you manage a co-ownership, a property agency or a rental building, and maintenance must be regular and documented;
- you have neither the equipment, the time nor the space to dispose of the waste.
If you are a tenant, the upkeep of surroundings and hedges is generally set out in the lease or the building rules. Check it and, for work beyond routine maintenance, obtain the agreement of the landlord or the property agency before submitting a request.
Hedges, neighbours and municipal or cantonal rules
In Switzerland, the height of a hedge, its distance from the property boundary and the way it is trimmed are governed by rules that depend on the canton and often on the municipality. Federal civil law also governs relations between neighbours, but the detailed provisions vary. We therefore give no distance or height here: you should check with your municipality or the competent cantonal office what applies to your plot.
Nature and landscape rules matter too. A hedge shelters birds and small animals, and some work may be restricted during the nesting season. A living hedge, a hedge of native species or a hedge within a protected area may be subject to special conditions. Ask the question before cutting back hard, especially if the hedge is to be removed.
Training and expertise in Switzerland
The landscape and horticulture trades have vocational training in Switzerland with a federal certificate of proficiency (CFC). Landscape gardeners learn plant identification, pruning techniques and the use of machinery. A landscaping company knows how each species behaves, which limits irreversible mistakes such as cutting a conifer too severely.
This does not replace a check on your side: ask the company what experience it has with hedges like yours, and whether it works with its own employees or uses subcontractors. SOS Travaux is a neutral matching service; it has no tradespeople of its own and does not guarantee the quality of any work. It is up to you to choose the offer that suits you.
Hedges by canton: Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura, Biel/Bienne
Routine maintenance trimming does not normally require a building permit. The local context can nevertheless affect your project, especially if the hedge is part of a larger whole (fence, wall, outdoor landscaping).
- Geneva: building permits are issued by the canton, through the Office des autorisations de construire (building permits office). The old town and protected districts may impose constraints on outdoor landscaping. Many rental buildings are managed by property agencies, who should be informed about shared hedges.
- Vaud: the building permit is issued by the municipality, via the cantonal permits centre (CAMAC) when cantonal services must give an opinion. The old towns and the Lavaux vineyards, a World Heritage site, are sensitive areas for anything affecting the landscape.
- Valais: the building permit is issued by the municipality within the building zone, and by a cantonal commission outside it. Around chalets and second homes, ask the municipality about outdoor landscaping.
- Fribourg: applications go through the cantonal FRIAC platform, and the permit is issued by the prefecture or the municipality depending on the work. The canton is bilingual and has protected old towns.
- Neuchâtel: applications go through the cantonal SATAC desk, with the decision taken by the municipality. The watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, listed by UNESCO, deserves a prior check for the areas concerned.
- Jura: the permit is issued by the municipality or the canton depending on the scale of the project. The old towns of Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne have their own sensitivities.
- Biel/Bienne and the canton of Berne: the permit is issued by the municipality or the prefecture depending on the project. Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual, French and German.
Hedge trimming is not covered by cantonal energy programmes or their subsidies. If you take the opportunity of work on the facade or roof to rethink your outdoor spaces too, these matters are handled separately.
Preparing your hedge trimming request
The more precise your description, the more comparable the offers. Note down before filling in the form:
- The approximate length of the hedge and the number of sides to trim;
- The current height and width, and those you want;
- The species, if you know them, or photos;
- Access: gate, slope, steps, presence of a wall or a neighbour nearby;
- What happens to the waste: removal, shredding on site, delivery to the recycling centre;
- The frequency: a one-off job or regular maintenance;
- The context: tenant, co-ownership, owner, possible agreement of the property agency.
Photos of the hedge from the front and from the side help the company assess the job even before visiting.
What a reliable hedge trimming quote itemises
A good quote is not limited to a lump sum. It specifies:
- the sides and length concerned, and the final height aimed for;
- the type of trimming (maintenance, renewal, reduction);
- the equipment used and any use of a platform lift or scaffolding;
- the handling of waste: removal, shredding, destination;
- the restoration of the site and the cleaning of the surroundings;
- the payment terms, and the date or period of work;
- the company’s insurance for damage to third parties, which you should ask for explicitly.
Compare offers item by item rather than on the total: a difference often comes from removal that is not included or a less thorough cut.
What makes the cost vary
Without needing to quote a figure, several factors determine the price: the length and height of the hedge, its starting condition, the species, the accessibility of the site, the need for a platform lift or a particular machine, the quantity of waste to remove and the frequency of visits. A well-maintained hedge generally costs less to keep up than one that has to be brought back under control. Only a quote prepared after a visit or from photos reflects your situation.
Legal warranties for your hedge work
The Code of Obligations (CO) provides a warranty for defects in a structure: five years for an immovable structure (art. 371 CO) and two years for a movable one. A new planting, a fence or a retaining wall attached to the land fall rather under immovable structures; a simple maintenance service such as trimming is classed differently, and it is the contract that counts.
If the contract refers to the SIA 118 standard (the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects’ general conditions for construction work), its provisions apply in addition. Read the quote and the conditions before signing, report any defect in writing and keep photos and correspondence. If in doubt about the scope of a warranty, seek advice from a consumer association or a lawyer.
Request a hedge trimming quote
To receive offers, simply describe your hedge and its access. You can request a quote free of charge and without obligation: your request is passed on to tradespeople and companies in the region, who contact you. You remain free to compare, to ask questions and to follow up on none of the offers.
Hedge trimming near you in Western Switzerland
To find the local context for your region, see the page for your canton:
Updated 29 October 2026