While our focuses primarily on landscaping, we do offer gardening maintenance and tree services too. This article outline the best practices for hedge trimming. Contact us if you require more information.

Newly planted hedges need to be pruned in their first few years after planting. This process is known as formative pruning, which is normally executed in the either the winter or spring seasons. After this, you can execute maintenance trimming once each year for informal hedges and 2 times a year for formal hedges.

This process can be undertaken in between spring and summer. Here then are just a few tree service tips for hedge trimming from our team, which you should be aware of.

The right hedge trimming tools to use

While there are many famous brands, we’ll concentrate on the type of tools you need to efficiently execute tasks. Ideally, hand-held hedge trimmers or shears can be the best tools to use on small hedges. On the other hand, electric or gas-powered trimmers can be the right solution for much bigger hedges. Regardless of the exact tool you use, always ensure its blade is sharp and its components are well lubricated.

Think of your personal safety first

Prior to executing hedge trimming, particularly when you utilize power tools, make sure you are well protected from any mishap that can occur. Many would be tree surgeons have been scarred for life and hospitalized for their failure to take precautions. As such, please remember safety comes first and always wear safety goggles and thick gloves.

Before beginning hedge trimming, take time to make sure that all obstacles on the ground are removed. It is also important to note that electric hedge trimmers usually have a residual current device in their mechanism. This means you should never use such equipment in damp conditions.

Formal hedge trimming

The width of your formal doesn’t have to be more than 60 cm if you take the precaution of trimming it on a regular basis. Commence the trimming by tapering each side of your hedge to ensure that its base is wider than its upper part. This makes easier for sunlight to penetrate to its bottom parts.

Informal or flowering hedges

When it comes to the right tree service for informal hedges which flower, begin by pruning the exact areas you wish to flower, once each year at the right moment. This goes a long way in encouraging your informal hedge to flower in the subsequent year. Trimming such hedges at the wrong time of the year can eliminate the growth, which will flower in the following year.

So, always make sure you prune your flowering hedge once in the spring season. At the same time, always ensure that you minimize the current season’s growth by in summer, for plants that can flower on just a single year’s growth. Finally, should your hedge consist of shrubs that produce berries, it can be prudent to delay the hedge trimming process until the moment the berries disappear.

And finally, of course, if in doubt contact the professionals …