Blog

• When splitting a hedge, the outer layer of growth on one side is cut away - back into the older stems but short of the trunk. The best tool to use is a long-handled shears; these are available in any garden outlet and worth having for this job and for any heavy pruning.

• Informal, flowering hedges, such as Escallonia and Viburnum tinus, are the easiest to look after, but have an untidy profile. Leggy growth should be cut back after the plant has flowered to maintain the shape of the hedge, but remove shoots with secateurs and not shears as this avoids the problem of clipped leaves rotting.

• DO Keep your shears sharp and clean. DON’T Clip evergreen hedges when they are dry, so during the summer water the hedge the evening before a trim. DON’T Be tempted to cut straight lines ‘by eye’; some kind of hedge clipping guide is needed.

Generally, these hedges are best trimmed right before they break dormancy in late winter or early spring. Evergreen hedges, such as boxwood (Buxus spp.), hardy in USDA zones 6 through 8, require cutting back for size and shape in early to mid spring.

Hawthorn flowers in May, so trim after flowering in June. If you want a dense, formal hedge trim again in autumn, but you'll probably have far fewer flowers. Alternatively, cut every few years and leave the berries for the birds if you like an informal hedge. To reduce a large hedge, hard prune in winter.

As a general rule, trim a hedge after the first flush of spring growth. This should keep the plants looking well shaped through the summer season. Trim established hedges often. A good rule of thumb is to cut back 6 inches for every foot of new growth.

^{Follow these simple steps on how to trim hedges and how to prune shrubs:}

• Shear the interior and other obvious problem areas first, then use a power trimmer to refine the shape.
• Snip overgrown branches and limbs inside each bush. Clear enough space for sunlight and air to pass through and stimulate healthy growth. ...
• Position a taut rope or string across the top and bottom of your hedge to establish a guideline. ...
• Slowly run the power trimmer along each side of the bush, little by little. Take frequent breaks to step back and assess the shape.
• Once you've achieved a clean and even edging, use the hand shears again to make any finishing touches.