When To Trim Hedges?

Last Updated on March 26, 2024 by Sharaj

Remember how your garden often look unappealing and haggard whenever the hedges are overgrown? You probably know this, but the best way to prevent your garden from looking embarrassingly unkempt is by simply pruning the hedges as and at when due.

However, seeing that we have different kinds of plant hedges, the real question here is how do you know that it’s time to prune your hedges?

Before we answer that, keep in mind that basic bypass pruners are great for almost all hedge type. Hedge trimmers and shears, on the other hand, work wonders on formal hedges. For tall hedges you can utilize telescopic hedge trimmer; that you’ll get easily in the market.

Also worthy of note is the fact you ought to disinfect your shears inside a solution of water and bleach before commencing pruning. By doing this, you’ll be preventing the spread of diseases across your plants while you prune.

What is The Best Time To Trim Hedges?

Now, let’s proceed to answer the question about when to trim hedges, shall we?

New Hedges


Usually, hedges that have just been newly planted require pruning immediately after they’re planted. People tend to plant hedges during spring or in winter because, at this period, plants are not usually completely recovered from inertness.

Other people plant them during summer or autumn, just when plants are starting to come alive again. It is best to cut hedges planted in spring right after you’ve planted them.

However, you can wait until the later part of summer, preferably when the plants start to become dormant, before cutting your summer-planted hedges. Trim your straight stems to a six- to eight-inch height so as to enhance branching whenever the hedges start growing back in spring.

These additional branches will make hedges look fuller and more compact. What’s more, they’ll require less strength to sharpen or maintain once they’re mature.

Flowering Hedges


With flowering hedges, timing is key. Pruning too soon or too late can cause the hedges to not produce flowers during the next season. Summer and spring-flowering shrubs are often pruned right after they produce flowers irrespective of the season.

Whenever any plant creates flower buds on top an old wood soon after finishing the present season’s bloom, make sure to prune it immediately after its flowers.

However, the flowering happens on new wood, trim the hedges before growth starts during late winter

Evergreen Hedges


The best time to trim evergreen hedges is immediately before they recover from dormancy, usually around the later period of winter or early days of spring. You should cut back evergreen hedges like boxwood between early and mid-spring.

Also, prune lightly during summer to stall quick growth. If you have formal hedges, they’ll need regular pruning throughout summer, especially if they’re neatly shaped and clipped. With informal hedges, light pruning will do. This is just to get rid of deadwood and control how tall or wide the plant grows.

Deciduous Hedges


Deciduous hedges that don’t produce flowers are often nurtured like informal hedges. This means all they need is light pruning around early spring. This is just for the sake of maintenance.

Barberry shrubs and hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, for example, only require deadwood removal and light cutting for height and width control. This light pruning in spring helps the hedges to stay compact, healthy, and attractive even during summer.

However, if there are branches that badly need to be pruned when summer comes, go ahead and trim them.

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