The Best Way to Trim Hedges

Hedges are plant fences you create when you grow the same variety of tree or shrub so close together that they merge. Some plants lend themselves particularly well to forming hedges, including bay cedar, bougainvillea, brush cherry and dwarf carissa. You can build hedge fences to reduce noise, gain privacy, block the wind, or simply beautify your surroundings. The best way to create a formal hedge without any gaps is to begin to clip your plants as soon as you plant them.

Young trees or shrubs
Hedge shears

Instructions

- 1
  Choose the kind of tree or shrub you'd like to use as a hedge. The plants you buy should be no taller than 2 feet.
- 2
  Cut your plants back to 6 inches from the ground at planting. Make them narrower at the top to allow sunlight to reach the bottom leaves. The Texas A&M Extension Service says this step encourages the development of low branches to fill gaps.
- 3
  Trim off half of any new growth in your plants' first dormant season. Let them develop in spring and summer.
- 4
  Prune off half of any new growth in your plants' second dormant season. Let them develop in the growing season.
- 5
  Begin to cut the hedge in the shape you desire in its third dormant season, before the plants get to the desired height.
- 6
  Let the plants grow as tall as you want in the spring and summer. Prune only branches that develop out of formation. From now on, every dormant season, prune the hedge to keep it at the height and depth you want.

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