Trimming hedges is a meticulous blend of nature and human touch – a dance between the shears and flourishing foliage. But if you know how to trim hedges, it wouldn’t seem as intimidating. Even if you’re a DIY novice, this project is within your reach.
Whether you’re shaping a backyard haven or cultivating a crisp boundary, mastering the art of hedge trimming is the key to transforming unruly shrubs into sculpted statements. Here, you’ll discover tips and techniques to help you turn hedge maintenance from a daunting task into a rewarding horticultural experience.
What makes a hedge?
Hedges form green walls that can serve as privacy screens while also adding vegetation to your yard for a more natural look. But you may wonder: What is the difference between bushes, shrubs, and hedges?
- Shrubs and bushes are the same thing and are used to create hedges. These are low-growing, woody plants used for aesthetic or functional purposes in your landscape.
- A hedge is formed when bushes or shrubs are planted closely together for aesthetic or practical purposes. They are often used for privacy screens or to delineate property lines in landscapes.
There are two types of hedges you may come across: informal hedges and formal hedges.
- Formal hedges are pruned into a particular shape and kept very neat and tidy. Usually, they are cut into a uniform box-like shape. Typically, formal hedges need to be trimmed twice a year.
- Informal hedges are kept more natural in appearance and are not shaped through trimming. Still, it would be better to trim them once a year. You should do the trimming after they have flowered, as this will encourage the hedge to grow.
How to trim hedges
Before you start pruning hedges, one of the most important things to consider is how much foliage you want to chop off.
There is a rule of one-third to remember: Don’t cut back any branch more than ⅓ of its length. For example, if you have a plant with 3-foot branches, remove no more than one foot of those branches. Removing too many branches can harm or even kill your hedge.
You will need the following tools:
- Hedge trimmer
- Safety goggles
- Gloves
- Earplugs
- Appropriate clothing
- Ladder
- Tarp
- Wheelbarrow or trash bin
- Rake
- String and stakes
Once you are ready to prune your hedges, follow these steps:
Step 1: Lay down a tarp
This will catch debris, so cleanup will be easier, as you won’t have to rake branches and leaves off the grass. You also can cut open a paper yard waste bag and spread it on the ground.
Step 2: Remove dead or diseased branches
Dead and diseased branches steal energy and nutrients from thriving branches, so remove them to improve the health of your hedge.
Step 3: Trim the hedge to your desired shape
Step back and look at the bush from time to time to see how the hedge is shaping up. If you want a perfect cut, use a string line. As you cut, your shears must be level with the string to get straighter lines.
Trim so that the bottom of the hedge is wider than the top of the hedge. It will allow sunlight to reach the lower branches, which helps the hedge grow strong and full. If you have tall hedges, a ladder is handy for trimming them to the desired height.
Step 4: Remove the tarp and clean up
Once you’ve trimmed your hedge to the desired size and shape, you’re done.
If you wish, you can compost the leftover clippings. If you want to help reduce waste in landfills, you can do your part through backyard composting. You can use compost as topdressing for your lawn, improving the health of your soil.
Pro tip: To get the best results out of your trimming job, keep these things in mind while you are working:
- Start trimming from the bottom of the hedge and work your way up: Don’t start pruning the hedges from the top.
- Hold your trimming tool straight: Make neat, even cuts. Jagged cuts take longer to heal and make your hedge more susceptible to disease.
- Maintain your tools: Clean and sharpen your trimmers as necessary. When they are not in use, store them in a safe, dry space. After you trim, clean the blades of the trimmers with a rag dipped in soapy water.
- Check for bird nests: It is illegal to remove or damage a bird nest in active use. You have to wait until the nest is abandoned before you can trim your hedges.
- Use a taut string to help you cut in a straight line: A taut string can be attached between bamboo canes or tall stakes. Set the stakes up on either side of the hedge and then tie a string at the top of the stakes.
- Use a slatted wood or cardboard frame: For complex hedge shapes, one of the easier ways to get the topiary you want is to create a slatted frame. Then, while you are trimming your hedges, you can place the frame over the hedge and trim around it.
- Consult your homeowner’s association and city code before you plant new hedges: Most HOAs have regulations about how high a hedge can be or where it can be planted. Some cities have similar ordinances in place.
Best time for hedge trimming
You should prune most hedges in the late dormant season, meaning the best time to trim your hedges is in late winter or early spring. But if your hedges bloom in early spring, you must trim them immediately after they bloom. Typically, hedges need to be trimmed about once a year.
Here’s a list of different types of hedges and the time of year they should be pruned:
| Prune in late winter or early spring | Prune immediately after blooming in the spring |
| ✓ Boxwood ✓ Butterfly bush ✓ Camellia ✓ Conifers ✓ Japanese spirea✓ Potentilla ✓ Rose of Sharon | ✓ Azaleas ✓ Forsythia ✓ Lilac ✓ Loropetalum bushes ✓ Mock orange ✓ Other early spring bloomers |
Many flowering hedges bloom on last year’s growth, also called “old growth” or “old wood.” Shortly after the flowers die, they set buds for next year.
That’s why it’s important to cut them back immediately after the flowers have turned brown and before they set their buds for next spring. If you wait until late winter or early spring to prune these shrubs, you’ll be cutting off the spring’s flower buds.
When picking the right day for hedge trimming, remember the following:
- Don’t trim in extreme weather.
- Trimming hedges in freezing or frosty weather prevents branches from healing.
- Trimming when it’s too hot dries out the cut spots and kills that part of the plant.
- Trim on cloudy days and avoid trimming on days with lots of direct sunlight.
Plants that bloom on new growth can be pruned late in the dormant season because they have not yet put out new growth or buds. Another exception is what horticulturists call the “three Ds” of pruning. If you have dead, damaged, or diseased branches, you can remove those at any time of the year.
Pro tip: Avoid fall pruning, as it encourages new growth before the freezing winter weather hits. The problem is that this new growth will still be tender and won’t have enough time to harden. As a result, early frosts and harsh winter weather can weaken the hedge.
Types of hedge trimmers
Regardless of the type of hedge trimmer you use, remember to sharpen your tools. A dull blade won’t cut well and may result in jagged, uneven cuts that are less healthy for your plant as they take a longer time to heal.
Also consider weight when selecting the type of trimmer you want to use, especially if you have tall hedges. Electric hedge trimmers can be extra heavy, while plastic tools weigh less but are less durable.
Here are the types of pruning tools you can use for trimming hedges:
Pruning saw: If you need a tool to cut large branches difficult to cut by hand, a pruning saw can do the job. It can cut through branches over 2 inches in diameter, making it great for dealing with thick branches. You can use a curved pruning saw to tackle even thicker branches.
Pruning shears: Similar to scissors, pruning shears are small trimming tools that can be easily operated with one hand. Pruning shears are good for cutting off small branches measuring between 0.25 and 0.5 inches in diameter. They are also known as pruning clippers, secateurs, hand shears, or hedge shears.
Hedge trimmers: Hedge trimmers are good for large and formal hedges that need a larger cutting tool to maintain. For extra tall hedges, you might need to purchase long-reach hedge trimmers.
Bypass hand pruners: Although not good for trimming dry or dead branches, bypass hand pruners are scissor-like contraptions that excel at cutting off green branches.
Loppers: This large two-handled tool requires both hands for operation. As the name suggests, loppers are great for lopping off large branches up to 2 inches in diameter. To give homeowners more reach, loppers and pruning shears can be attached to a pole extension.
Anvil-style trimmers: These trimmers work best for pruning away dead branches. They can cut bigger branches than a hand clipper can.
Powered trimmers: The key to using a powered trimming tool is to steady your hand for an even cut. Power trimmers speed up the trimming process and make it easier to cut overgrown hedge branches. Corded trimmers are usually more powerful than cordless trimmers, but you will have to deal with the hassle of wielding a tool with a cord.
Note: Many experts say that using powered hedge trimmers or shears is not the best choice for the health or beauty of the hedge. If you must use an electric trimmer, use it sparingly and use it along with hand pruning.
Benefits of trimming hedges
Removing dead branches allows sunlight and air to reach the interior of the hedge, but there are other health and safety benefits to hedge trimming as well:
- Makes the hedges less flammable: It’s especially important in areas that experience a lot of wildfires.
- Prevents loose branches from being turned into projectiles in heavy winds: Homeowners living in hurricane territory should be especially wary of dead branches becoming dangerous projectiles during a storm.
- Makes pathways more accessible: Overgrown hedges can block pathways or result in a lot of branches awkwardly sticking out in the middle of a footpath.
- Prevents dead branches from using up nutrients: Trimming away dead branches will allow healthier branches to absorb the nutrients, improving the health of your hedges.
- Encourages hedge growth: Trimming your hedges will increase the amount of new leaf and flower growth.
- Improves curb appeal: No one will find a wild and untidy hedge attractive. Trim bushes and hedges to increase the curb appeal of your yard.
Cost to trim hedges
Hedge trimming can be an exhausting, time-consuming task. Sometimes, you might not have time to fit hedge trimming into your schedule or the physical capability for such a job. Instead, you can hire a professional to trim your hedges so you won’t have to tackle the job yourself.
To hire a pro, hedge trimming costs $65 to $90 per hour. The average price is $75 per hour, although prices vary depending on factors like the difficulty of the job and the height of the hedges.
FAQ about how to trim hedges
What kinds of plants grow well in a hedge?
Hedges are a popular choice for homeowners due to their beauty, function, and artistic potential. Popular choices for hedging plants include shrubs, such as:
- Arborvitae
- Azalea
- Boxwood
- Camellia
- Cypress
- Forsythia
- Gardenia
- Holly
- Juniper
- Loropetalum
- Privet
- Spirea
- Viburnum
- Yew
There are so many more plants that can work in a hedge formation. Visit your local university’s cooperative extension website to research plants that work well in your area.
What kinds of questions should I ask before buying a particular plant?
Before you buy a particular plant, know its inherent growing traits and choose a species that will work well for your space. Ask yourself these questions:
- How tall does it normally grow?
- How fast does it grow?
- How wide will it be?
- Does it need full sun or partial shade?
- Am I interested in an evergreen hedge (flowering or non-flowering) or a deciduous hedge (loses its leaves)?
Also, consider whether you want something that will be trimmed into an artificial shape or whether you are happy to let it grow into a more natural shape. Some plants are better for shaping than others, so choose a variety that suits your goals to avoid frustration down the road.
What types of hedges are the easiest to maintain?
Not all homeowners have time to spend on lawn maintenance. So, the easier your plants are to take care of, the less you will stress about taking care of your landscape.
Some low-maintenance hedges that don’t take too much effort to take care of include boxwood (buxus), holly, hydrangea, Mexican orange blossom, Murraya, photina, viburnum, and yew.
Find a lawn care pro near you
Armed with this knowledge and the right tools, anyone can trim hedges. Remember to trim at the right time of year, use sharpened tools, and step back every so often to survey your work as you cut so you don’t get way off track.
If this chore is too much for you to handle, contact a local lawn care pro who knows how to trim hedges.
Main Photo Credit: With Associates | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0
