When to Prune Bushes, Shrubs & Hedges. In this first year, just "eyeball" the trimming pattern as you pinch back all new growth. Water the shrubs thoroughly to help jump-start new growth and help them take up the fertilizer. Finally, trim the ends of the hedge. The top of the hedge is always the last part to cut and it should be cut flat. This technique is appropriate for most mature hedge plants. With a clean pair of pruning shears, clip off any suckers and waterspouts approximately 1/4 inch from the tree. Knowing When to Trim Your Hedges 3 Where one stem branches into two, cut just above the Y-shaped split. For new hedges and flowering shrubs, trim them early and often to encourage healthy growth and to establish your desired shape. Hedge trimming is different from pruning individual specimen shrubs. Keeping tall or extra-wide hedges in trim, a long-reach hedge trimmer ... How to maintain and trim your hedge. For flowering hedges and shrubs, trimming will depend on when they bloom. Protective eyewearis a must, as you can heal scratches on your arms a lot more effectively than those on your eyes! The inside cutting edge of the blade is 7″ long. Yes, hedge shears can be returned and have a 180-Day return period. Get the Right Pruning Tools and Equipment. Place the template on the hedge and cut following the line of the template, moving it along as you proceed When trimming hedges with electric or battery-operated shears, it’s important to maintain an even flow when you cut. As you cut back the new growth, it will stimulate overall plant growth and give a fuller shape to the shrubs. All Rights Reserved. This will allow sufficient sunlight to reach the bottom branches. ", Step 2: I prefer this way of trimming because the cuts are very clean and smooth when done by hand. If you don't overcompensate for this fallout, the bush will start to look uneven and eventually grow weak. Often, the ends are simply squared up to be vertical, but you can also angle them inward in the same fashion as was used on the sides of the hedge. All hedge shears can be shipped to you at home. Make sure that you keep the … Goggles prevent all manner of debris from landing in your eyes, and there are a wide range of styles available depending on your budget and fashion sense. Giving you a healthy cut, meaning your hedge can still flourish after being trimmed. The most commonly-used tools are pruning shears (also called secateurs or hand pruners), loppers, and pruning saws. Trimming hedges doesn't need to be time-consuming. Spring flowering shrubs should be cut after they bloom and summer ones should be cut in spring or winter. 1. Once the strings are installed, use a hand pruner to remove any branches that are deflecting the strings. DON’T Forget to Maintain Your Tools. The choice is entirely up to you. Here are a few tips on how to trim bushes like a pro: Knowing how to trim bushes will save you time, money and increase the curb appeal of your home. Need Help? Now is the step where you will start taking action with the hedge shear. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Related content: Watch our video guide to the basic pruning cuts. Okatsune Precision Hedge Shears. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Trimming a mature hedge requires fairly simple tools. This requires a trimming strategy in which the sides of the hedge are pruned at an outward-flaring angle, so that the top of the hedgerow is narrower than the bottom. Pruning saws are great for making sharp cuts through thicker branches. Whether you have a small set of bushes or a larger column of shrubs, trimming them regularly is important for a well-manicured lawn. Good quality pruning tools make a difference when pruning trees and shrubs. Start by trimming the top face of the hedge to create a plane that is flush with the top guide strings. Setting up guidelines for trimming can be more complicated than it sounds, since an untrimmed hedge is oversized, making it difficult to run guide strings without the unruly branches getting in the way. 4. Even at this stage, though, take some pains to begin trimming back the upper branches a bit shorter than the lower branches. Cedars will grow from 1 to 3 feet (30-90 cm) a year, so you will want to stay on top of the trimming duties before growth gets out of hand. Repeat the process to set the other pair of stakes and strings on the other side of the hedge. Make sure to prune the base near the roots as well. This will ensure that you trim your hedge so the top face is flat and level regardless of the ground slope. To retain a physical barrier, and to avoid shocking the plant, cut back one side of the hedge one year and the other side the next, especially on large hedges. Using Japanese Okatsune shears specially made for trimming hedges, Pasang is able to prune the hornbeams so they are nice and flat. Whichever style you choose, pick one with blades large enough for efficient hedge trimming. On sloped ground, it's best to measure from the ground to ensure uniformity from end to end. The goal is to make sure the strings are straight and taut from end to end. With cuts as perfect as those you would expect from a pair of scissors, you can really polish your landscaping using these shears. Slowly run the power trimmer along each side of the bush, little by little. You can use a line level to adjust the string for level, if necessary. Repeat the process to set an upper guide string marking where you want the upper edge of the hedge to fall. The first step is choosing the right types of hedge trimmers to fit your needs. Ready to find the supplies you need in your local store? Chea… The best rated hedge shears product is the Professional 9 in. By using The Spruce, you accept our, 4 Types of Pole Pruners for Trimming Trees, How to Create and Maintain a Formal Hedge, Heading Back and Other Types of Pruning Cuts, How to Make an Easy Brick Patio Pattern for Beginners, Tips on Pruning Arborvitae After Snow Damage, The 9 Best Cordless Hedge Trimmers of 2020. Use loppers or a pruning saw on older branches that are more than around 1cm in diameter. Prune in the winter. This early style of pruning can be kept up for one to two years, depending on the shrub species. to an arch), cut a template of the shape required from cardboard or plywood. Boxwood, a popular landscaping foundation plant that grows well in middle Tennessee, is a good example. Follow these simple steps on how to trim hedges and how to prune shrubs: When it comes to the art of trimming hedges, there are a few tricks for making them look great. How to Choose a Trimmer If you need some extra help trimming your hedges, consider renting hedge trimmers with our hedge trimmer rental to get your project done. To ensure uniformity from end to end, measure up from the lower string, and position the upper string at the same distance from the ground at each end. For flat cuts across the top, hold the power trimmer completely horizontal to ensure a uniform shape. Pound in a second stake at the opposite corner of the hedge on the same side, angling it as with the first stake. To maintain straight lines while trimming a hedge, you will need erect guide lines as a reference point. ", Step 4: To facilitate this, now is a good time to feed them according to the needs of the species. You can usually get by with four guide strings—one at the top and one at the bottom of each side of the hedge. Hedge Trimming Tips Get into the Action. These shears are user-friendly and come in a range of sizes. Avoid cutting below the guideline to keep your leveling job even. The new growth stimulated by trimming will quickly fill in any holes in your hedge. This is best done with strings attached to wooden stakes driven into the ground at the ends of the hedge row. Generally, a mild feeding of compost or slow-release fertilizer is most appropriate. Be very careful if you are pruning a tall hedge that requires the use of a stepladder. Attach a long string from one stake to the other, near the lowest branches on the shrubs. Essentially, the goal is to cut channels through the shrubs so that guide strings can stretch out straight and taut and provide an accurate reference. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. Newly planted shrubs require a different strategy for the first year or two, until the shrubs reach a more mature stage. Other useful tools are handy for specific pruning jobs, such as shears for clipping hedges or topiary, and … 2 Find long stems that grow out of hedge, and snip them close to the ground. Clear enough space for sunlight and air to pass through and stimulate healthy growth. Spring-flowering shrubs are best trimmed immediately after they bloom. For large limbs, a bucksaw can be used. Formal Shrub Trimming Step 1: Plan Straight Lines Use once, then bring it back - no maintenance required. Corded and cordless electric varieties are best suited for small to medium-sized hedges, while gas trimmers are designed to accommodate a wider surface area. Do not use dull handheld trimming tools. Generally speaking, a non-flowering hedge should be trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks during the growing season, and less frequently as the weather cools. Canes or stakes pushed into the ground help with vertical lines To shape the top of the hedge (e.g. Use handheld or electric hedge shears for this kind of pruning. We'll take you to the exact aisle and bay. Hand or pole mounted versions of secateurs and pruning saws are available. Use The Home Depot app to locate products and check inventory. Keep your cuts as clean as possible to help the branches grow evenly and strong. Cut the shrub or hedge directly over the string or ribbon, cutting only as far back as the string position. With such long blades, hedge shears are designed to cut a much larger area with each stroke than any other pruning tool (unless you consider a machete a pruning tool). If you cut near the top of the hedge, it’ll just end up growing back fast. Trim the Top of the Hedge . Aim to keep the tree under 2m in height for your own best benefit, or if you have the space and want some dominant hedging for your estate, keep it to 3m tops, lest you lose your grip with this magnificent beast. For flowering shrubs, it's important to time the trimming so it doesn't interfere with their bloom cycle. Trim the sides of the hedge to create planes that are as even as possible with the guide strings. At this stage, it is not important to create perfectly flat sides by using stakes and string as a guide. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com.

how to trim hedges with shears

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