How To Clip Shrubs Into Ornamental Shapes

Plant a year-old shrub and allow it time to establish itself before beginning to prune its shape. To keep plants bushy, pinch back new growth each spring before the light-colored tender tips called "candles" bloom into new green needles.

Start shaping your shrub in its second spring. Continue pinching all new-growth tips. Cut hedges back by half their height to force new branches to fill in the ground between plants. Cut branches that will eventually be removed from the topiary or espaliers halfway back to the main trunk or leader on conifers. Clean dead twigs and branches out of the center as you cut back branches.

Remove the rest of the branches from espaliers and topiary shapes in their third spring; cut hedges back by half again. Your shrub should now have its basic outline.

Pinch or cut branch tips back each spring to form the final shaping on your shrub. Use hand shears or loppers to shape hedges and outlines evenly; mistakes are too easy to make with electric trimmers. Clean away dead twigs and branches frequently to keep your shrub neat. Remove new shoots that grow where they shouldn't at anytime during the year.

Continue to pinch and shear annually once you've achieved the desired shape to maintain your creation. Most espaliers, topiaries and hedges are smaller than their relatives that have been left to grow naturally and need constant attention if they are to stay within the growth limits you establish for them.

Trim hedges with the widest sections at the bottom and plan other shapes so that all of the surfaces can get enough light to carry on with photosynthesis; foliage will die off if it grows in the shade. Shear fast-growing shrubs like privet as often as necessary--except during the hottest part of summer.