Once the strings are installed, use a hand pruner to remove any branches that are deflecting the strings. What to Use to Trim Hedges. Pruning is always done by hand (so put away that electric hedge trimmer!). Good quality pruning tools make a difference when pruning trees and shrubs. Dull blades can damage branches, creating tears that lead to … You can use the same pruning tools to clip the dead, diseased, damaged, and deranged branches. In this first year, just "eyeball" the trimming pattern as you pinch back all new growth. This technique is appropriate for most mature hedge plants. Step 4: Thinning This method reduces the bulk of a plant with minimal regrowth: Each cut removes an entire stem or branch, either back to its point of origin on the main stem or to the point where it joins another branch. On very tall hedges, though, a third interim string on each side might be helpful. Prune in the winter. Spring-flowering shrubs are best trimmed immediately after they bloom. The best way to deal with this is by using hand pruners to cut away the offending branches so that the guide strings can assume a straight line from one end of the hedge to the other. Boxwood, a popular landscaping foundation plant that grows well in middle Tennessee, is a good example. ", Step 3: Start by trimming the top face of the hedge to create a plane that is flush with the top guide strings. Use loppers or a pruning saw on older branches that are more than around 1cm in diameter. The most commonly-used tools are pruning shears (also called secateurs or hand pruners), loppers, and pruning saws. How to Choose a Trimmer As you cut back the new growth, it will stimulate overall plant growth and give a fuller shape to the shrubs. Trim the Top of the Hedge . 2 Find long stems that grow out of hedge, and snip them close to the ground. We'll take you to the exact aisle and bay. For more precise shaping, you will also need the proper handheld pruning tools. At the point where your hedgerow is full-bodied and beginning to assume the inverted vase shape, you can switch to a more precise trimming technique to create a classic hedge with a flat top and sides. Each branch or stem is cut individually, with cuts carefully placed based on bud growth. Summer-flowering shrubs should be trimmed in the late winter or early in the spring before active new growth is underway. Use handheld or electric hedge shears for this kind of pruning. Slowly run the power trimmer along each side of the bush, little by little. The amount of lean is based on expected sun exposure: On the side that will face direct sun, make the lean relatively slight; on the shady side, make the lean more pronounced. According to Morrell, these German-made Berger hedge shears are the only model used to trim and shape the many hedges and bushes on the NYBG’s property. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. The biggest decision you will need to make is between hand-operated hedge shears, which look like oversized scissors with long handles, and a power or battery-operated hedge shears, which bears a slight resemblance to a mini chainsaw. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. Medium hedges. Can hedge shears be returned? DON’T Forget to Maintain Your Tools. This will ensure that you trim your hedge so the top face is flat and level regardless of the ground slope. However in general, these are the optimum timings for pruning hedges: Deciduous hedges. If you are sensitive to pollen or landscaping debris, make sure to wear a. Yes, hedge shears can be returned and have a 180-Day return period. When you trim your hedges, remove one third to two thirds of the length of the current year’s growth. Ideally, hedges should be pruned in late winter, when plants are dormant and … This early style of pruning can be kept up for one to two years, depending on the shrub species. This will allow sufficient sunlight to reach the bottom branches. The Okatsune hedge shears are recommended for you to check … Pruning saws are great for making sharp cuts through thicker branches. 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. Okatsune Precision Hedge Shears. Hand shears and loppers can be used for hard-to-reach areas and pronounced angles, or for a more defined finish along the top. Electric shears have a trigger to engage the blades. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Video of the Day Volume 0% If the ground is level, the string should also be level; sloped ground will require a sloped string. 1 Use loppers to remove one-third of the older stems, so sunlight can penetrate the hedge's interior. Pruning. ". Use your shears or a hedge trimmer to cut along the top. 4 Continue cutting older stems, but leave new growth. Hold the hedge trimmer as level as possible as you trim. Tip: See our hedge trimmers buying guide for a more detailed explanation of the options available to you. This is the easiest way to get a crisp line on your hedge. Trimming is stressful for hedge shrubs, and they naturally will respond with new growth. Trimming a mature hedge requires fairly simple tools. Snip overgrown branches and limbs inside each bush. 4. Spring flowering shrubs should be cut after they bloom and summer ones should be cut in spring or winter. Whichever style you choose, pick one with blades large enough for efficient hedge trimming. Check for and cut away any remaining branches that seem out of place. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Step 1: Newly planted shrubs require a different strategy for the first year or two, until the shrubs reach a more mature stage. Place the template on the hedge and cut following the line of the template, moving it along as you proceed Start pruning at the bottom of the hedge and work your way up so that cut branches and leaves at the top can freely fall to the ground. Attach a long string from one stake to the other, near the lowest branches on the shrubs. Aim for every 6-8 weeks, at minimum, during the warmer months and reduce frequently as the weather cools. 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. Repeat the process to set an upper guide string marking where you want the upper edge of the hedge to fall. 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. 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. If the ground is level, you can be very precise by using a line level to check the orientation of the string and make sure it is perfectly horizontal. 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. With cuts as perfect as those you would expect from a pair of scissors, you can really polish your landscaping using these shears. Since the lower branches don't receive as much sunlight, they die more quickly. Wavy-Serrated Blade Hedge Shears. Use once, then bring it back - no maintenance required. How Do I Prune A Leylandii Hedge?