How to Trim Lawn Bushes

For a round cut, hold your hedge trimmers securely in both hands. Pull the trigger and sweep the moving blade in an arcing motion across the top of the bush. Trim an inch or less off the bush at a time as you round it off from the top down. Cut enough foliage from the bush to make it into a lollipop shape without leaving gaps or large, exposed branches.

For a cube cut, flatten the top of a bush with your hedge trimmers. Work slowly, cutting away a little foliage at a time until the top is flat and there are no large gaps. Cut straight down on each side of the bush to shape it like a cube. Pay attention to the angles of your bush. Step back away from the bush periodically to check your progress.

For a natural look, sweep your hedge trimmers over the bush, following the flow of the branches. Trim off the foliage, leaving a couple of inches between your cut and the main branch structure. Allow the natural growth pattern in the bush to dictate the cuts you are making. Take your time, and avoid exposing the branches.

Give the bush a trim as it is needed to keep the foliage even and the cut surfaces clean. No matter which pattern you choose for your hedges, there will be shoots and branches on each bush that grow faster than the others. Snip off the ends of fast-growing shoots with your pruning shears to keep the bushes shaped.