The Best Shears to Trim Small Ground Cover Plants

Trimming A Ground Cover

• Ground covers need to be thick enough to keep weed seeds from germinating and the quicker they fill in to a solid mass, the less weeding is needed. In general, cutting back the top growth by a third causes the plants to grow together more quickly, though ground covers that spread by underground stems can be trimmed more closely. The best time to trim is spring, when new growth is under way. Avoid pruning in late summer or fall to prevent winter injury. Always cover with a fine mulch until the plants form a thick carpet, and don't stint on the water and fertilizer.

Shears For Small Areas

• For small areas and for trimming around larger plants, old-fashioned shears are the most useful. These may be labeled as grass shears, topiary shears, or garden shears and look like large, wide scissors with the blades connected by a springy metal U-shaped handle. These are easy to control and can be used either vertically or horizontally. They are also easily sharpened.

Trimming Medium-Sized Areas

• Hedge shears are your best bet for medium-sized areas since each slice of the blades covers a fairly wide area. Make sure you buy shears with a comfortable handle and smooth action to avoid muscle strain. Light weight is also a plus. Again, keep them sharpened to avoid crushing stems.

Handling Large Areas

• Large areas of groundcover plants are best mowed rather than sheared by hand. A sharp rotary mower is best. Set the height to remove about a third of the growth or to remove all the faded flowers and seed heads. The newly-sheared groundcover may look bare, but if you trim in spring, just as growth begins, new shoots will fill in within a few weeks.