How to Prune Hedges

Plant a hedge to mark boundaries, form a barrier, create a background or define a planting bed. All hedges will look best if kept trimmed and in good health.

Bamboo Garden Stakes
Garden Stakes
Hedge Shears
String
Electric Hedge Shears

Instructions

- 1
  Begin trimming hedges when they're first planted. Young plants respond well to shaping and training.
- 2
  Cut a few inches off the top of a hedge plant as soon as it has been planted. This will help form bushy plants.
- 3
  Use a string guide to keep your hedges even. Place a bamboo stake at either end of the hedgerow. String a line between the two stakes at the desired height of the finished hedge. Use hedge trimmers and follow the string line.
- 4
  Shape the hedge so that it's wider at the bottom. Sunlight will reach all the leaves if the hedge is pruned this way. Taper the plants in as you near the top.
- 5
  Trim during the active growing season. You may have to trim more than once, but you'll avoid making mistakes that can't be rectified.
- 6
  Trim lightly at the end of the growing season to keep hedges looking good throughout the winter months.

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