A Homeowner's Guide to Hedge Trimming Timing

The right time to trim depends on what kind of shrub you have. Cutting at the wrong time won't always kill a plant, but it can cost you blooms or leave it looking ragged.

Know what you have

• Spring-blooming shrubs: trim soon after they finish flowering, so you don't remove next year's buds.
• Summer-blooming shrubs: prune in late winter or early spring.
• Evergreen hedges: a light shaping in late spring or early summer keeps them neat. Avoid heavy cuts late in the season.

How often?

Formal hedges look best with regular, light trims rather than one big cut once the plant is overgrown. Informal shrubs usually need less.

Avoid these

• Cutting back hard right before cold weather.
• Shearing everything into a ball regardless of the plant's natural shape.
• Dull tools, which tear stems and invite problems.

If you're not sure what's growing in your beds, send us a photo or request a free estimate and we'll tell you the best timing.

← Back to the blog