Taming your hedge is a key step to maintain an immaculate garden. Follow our tips and advice on how to keep your hedges trimmed and in shape.
Trimming is essential not just for the look, but also to ensure your hedge is healthy and strong as it grows. Hedge trimming is both a science and an art; science because a thorough understanding on the plant is needed before you start hacking off its leaves and branches; and art because it requires creativity to shape one that impresses!
Did you know there are different types of hedge styles?
Formal hedges are kept very neat and require more regular attention. Typically, they have obvious sides and regular shapes like rectangles. Informal hedges, on the other hand, require little trimming and care.
Now that you know why hedge trimming is important and what types of hedge styles exist, let’s look at how to trim them. Remember, you can always call in an expert when things get tough, or you just special need to get the job done.
Some safety rules to get you started:
- For large hedges that need special equipment, call in a certified arborist
- Check if your equipment is in good condition before you start trimming
- If you are trimming high hedges yourself, be aware of dangers such as electric wires, ladders, etc. Do not proceed if the hedges are within close proximity to the powerlines. More Info on the vegetation under powerlines can be found on our page here
- Wear protective gear when trimming
Hedge trimming equipment:
- Hedge shears are great to shape hedges. They can be powered or long-bladed hand shears
- For branches between ¼ to ½ inch, pruning shears and clippers may be used. For branches up to 1.5 inch, lopping shears are more suitable. For smaller cuts, bypass-style clippers or loppers come in handy
- Anything thicker than 1 inch could be handled by rough-teethed pruning saws
- Use either pole pruners or saws of lopping shears on a pole to trim high-up branches, and use chainsaws to trim branches on the ground
When is a good time for hedge trimming?
The frequency and seasons for hedge trimming depends on the plant species, but in general, formal evergreens like box or privet should be trimmed around two to three times a year during the growing season.
Autumn and winter is a suitable time to prune and to make sure there’re no large tree branches at risk of falling during rough weather. Before the onset of growing season is also a good time to trim your hedges.
When in doubt, call the experts…
If you don’t have the equipment needed to safely trim a hedge, calling in a qualified arborist is highly recommended. At Treescape, we have a professional team that utilises the right equipment to make your backyards look special, and we are always passionate about what we do.
