Trim your hedges. When trimming hedges with electric or battery-operated shears, it’s important to maintain an even flow when you cut. 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. The first step is choosing the right types of hedge trimmers to fit your needs. 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. What's the Best Time to Prune Evergreen Shrubs? If you don't overcompensate for this fallout, the bush will start to look uneven and eventually grow weak. You should start cutting the hedge at the bottom and work your way upwards- moving your hedge trimmer in a steady sweeping movement up and down. Yes, hedge shears can be returned and have a 180-Day return period. Wear safety gear for your hands and eyes. Water the shrubs thoroughly to help jump-start new growth and help them take up the fertilizer. For this reason, and since they are straight, they create long, straight edges on your plant as they cut. Make sure that you keep the … You need to consider the size of the branches and the … Need Help? 2. What is the best rated hedge shears product? Hand or pole mounted versions of secateurs and pruning saws are available. You can cut these areas, but make sure you cut those that are close to the main stems. The most commonly-used tools are pruning shears (also called secateurs or hand pruners), loppers, and pruning saws. 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. Check once more to make sure all strings are straight and taut, and, if necessary, prune away any branches that are touching or deflecting the strings. When you trim your hedges, remove one third to two thirds of the length of the current year’s growth. 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: 4 Continue cutting older stems, but leave new growth. Okatsune Precision Hedge Shears. This early style of pruning can be kept up for one to two years, depending on the shrub species. For large limbs, a bucksaw can be used. How Do I Prune A Leylandii Hedge? The choice is entirely up to you. Keep your cuts as clean as possible to help the branches grow evenly and strong. Good quality pruning tools make a difference when pruning trees and shrubs. You are taking the first step in training the shrubs into the classic hedge shape of an inverted vase or flat-topped pyramid. Step 2: Use a Hedge Trimmer Whichever style you choose, pick one with blades large enough for efficient hedge trimming. Ready to find the supplies you need in your local store? Pruning tools. 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. 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. Take frequent breaks to step back and assess the shape. Trim the sides of the hedge to create planes that are as even as possible with the guide strings. Hold the hedge trimmer as level as possible as you trim. To facilitate this, now is a good time to feed them according to the needs of the species. Trimming a mature hedge requires fairly simple tools. For precision, you can measure the distance from the trunk or main stem of the nearest shrub to make sure the distance is the same for both stakes. Other useful tools are handy for specific pruning jobs, such as shears for clipping hedges or topiary, and … Electric shears have a trigger to engage the blades. If you need some extra help trimming your hedges, consider renting hedge trimmers with our hedge trimmer rental to get your project done. To keep these big boys in check, pruning this tree two times a year is recommended, ideally in late Spring and late Summer. Consequently, you’ll trim your hedge in Some homeowners prefer the relaxing peace and quiet offered by manual shears, while other prefer to get the work done quickly with power tools. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Wavy-Serrated Blade Hedge Shears. We'll take you to the exact aisle and bay. On sloped ground, it's best to measure from the ground to ensure uniformity from end to end. Get into the Action. With a clean pair of pruning shears, clip off any suckers and waterspouts approximately 1/4 inch from the tree. Ideally, hedges should be pruned in late winter, when plants are dormant and … 3. This is best done with strings attached to wooden stakes driven into the ground at the ends of the hedge row. Now hedges should be pruned from an early stage ... Ideas for topiary. When you've finished trimming along the top, examine your work. Make sure the distance above the ground is the same from one side to the other. Be very careful if you are pruning a tall hedge that requires the use of a stepladder. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. If necessary, use hand pruners to cut through thicker branches. Pruning. 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. Use The Home Depot app to locate products and check inventory. 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. Start by trimming the top face of the hedge to create a plane that is flush with the top guide strings. Can hedge shears be returned? 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. Snip overgrown branches and limbs inside each bush. Use once, then bring it back - no maintenance required. Check for and cut away any remaining branches that seem out of place. 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. At this stage, it is not important to create perfectly flat sides by using stakes and string as a guide. Leave the bottom part of your hedge wider than the top. Protective eyewearis a must, as you can heal scratches on your arms a lot more effectively than those on your eyes! Hedges are usually grown from shrubs that have two vegetation phases within a year, one in spring and another at the end of summer.Best is to wait for these growth periods to slow down, so that the shape you give them will stay for a longer period of time. Tip: See our hedge trimmers buying guide for a more detailed explanation of the options available to you. Hedge trimming is different from pruning individual specimen shrubs. Repeat the process to set an upper guide string marking where you want the upper edge of the hedge to fall. Now is the step where you will start taking action with the hedge shear. The Okatsune hedge shears are recommended for you to check … 2 Find long stems that grow out of hedge, and snip them close to the ground. If you are insistent about the look of a formal hedge, you might want to repeat this trimming on a monthly basis, as appropriate for the plant species. 3 Where one stem branches into two, cut just above the Y-shaped split. In this first year, just "eyeball" the trimming pattern as you pinch back all new growth. This will ensure that you trim your hedge so the top face is flat and level regardless of the ground slope. 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. Drive a stake into the ground at one end corner of the hedge, using a hammer or mallet, The stake location should mark the spot where you want the bottom end corner of the hedge to fall. Even at this stage, though, take some pains to begin trimming back the upper branches a bit shorter than the lower branches. This is normal, and the trimming itself will stimulate new growth that will fill in these areas. Once you've achieved a clean and even edging, use the hand shears again to make any finishing touches. Since hedges are usually intended to provide privacy, it is important that the shrubs be as full as possible from top to bottom. What are the shipping options for hedge shears? Pruning bushes, shrubs and hedges all depends on the type of … You can use a line level to adjust the string for level, if necessary. You can use the same pruning tools to clip the dead, diseased, damaged, and deranged branches. Hedge shears or trimmers are typically used for formal hedges, while simple bypass pruners are suitable for any type of hedge. They can frame the grounds of your home and add a decorative border to your yard. Shop The Home Depot for trimmers, pruning tools and everything you need to get your hedges in shape. For flowering hedges and shrubs, trimming will depend on when they bloom. Start by trimming the top face of the hedge to create a plane that is flush with the top guide strings. Turn on the electric shears. Angle the stake slightly so it "leans in" toward the top of the hedge. Fertilize your freshly pruned hedges to encourage new, healthy growth. Trim the Top of the Hedge . 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. Cut the shrub or hedge directly over the string or ribbon, cutting only as far back as the string position. This guide will provide tips on how to prune shrubs and instructions on how to trim hedges. After ​planting a hedge with boxwood or another shrub species, pinch back all new growth during the first year, which will induce low branching. All hedge shears can be shipped to you at home. With cuts as perfect as those you would expect from a pair of scissors, you can really polish your landscaping using these shears. 1. 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. 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. Snip overgrown branches and limbs inside each bush. Hedge Trimming Tips Clear enough space for sunlight and air to pass through and stimulate healthy growth. 5 Use hand pruners to thin stems. Trimming is stressful for hedge shrubs, and they naturally will respond with new growth. ", Step 4: Secateurs, loppers and a folding pruning saw will enable you to tackle a wide range of jobs. Keeping tall or extra-wide hedges in trim, a long-reach hedge trimmer ... How to maintain and trim your hedge. 1. Be very careful if you are pruning a tall hedge that requires the use of a stepladder. 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. If you cut near the top of the hedge, it’ll just end up growing back fast. Use loppers or a pruning saw on older branches that are more than around 1cm in diameter. 1 Use loppers to remove one-third of the older stems, so sunlight can penetrate the hedge's interior. You can usually get by with four guide strings—one at the top and one at the bottom of each side of the hedge. As you cut back the new growth, it will stimulate overall plant growth and give a fuller shape to the shrubs. 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. Before using shears to trim your hedges, you need to first get rid of any overgrowth that may have resulted to the thickening of the area outside your hedge. Pruning saws are great for making sharp cuts through thicker branches. Non-flowering and evergreen hedges should only be trimmed as needed, but it's important to reshape them before they become overgrown to prevent weed growth. ", Step 2: 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. When to Prune Bushes, Shrubs & Hedges.