Is there a bad time to trim hedges?

[dwyman]

I was wondering if you need to wait to trim hedges when there is green growing or if you can trim them anytime. I have a customer that I trim hedges for every spring when they are growing but I have some free time now. They are all dormant with no leaves on them yet, so I didn't know if this could damage them at all. Do I have any worries doing it early or is any time good to trim.

thanks.

[ohreallythanks]

from what i know....you should trim while they are dormant ....so they will grow evenly during growing season....trim after flowering.....know the bloom cycle so you don't cut off buds......hope this helps and if i'm wrong somebody correct me

[LLee]

Most shrubs will be putting a major growth spurt in the next 2-3 months and will need trimming after that. However, I believe the "textbook" says that it is best to trim when dormant. Having said that, most customers that have "hedges" like them trimmed and manicured and don't want to pay for multiple trimmings. If this is the case with your customer I would wait till the middle to end of may and trim them and maybe try to sell her on another trim after they stop growing in your area. I have one customer that has me come out once a year and whack his shrubs back to hardly nothing early summer. He knows this is not best for the shrubs but its best for his pocketbook. As with any service you can only tell them whats best and then do what they want or they'll find someone else to do it.

[Hawk83]

from what i know....you should trim while they are dormant ....so they will grow evenly during growing season....trim after flowering.....know the bloom cycle so you don't cut off buds......hope this helps and if i'm wrong somebody correct me

Nah i think ya gut it right, buddy. trim while dormant cuz there are no buds there yet to cut off by mistake, not to mention trimming while dormant is prolly the best way to insure an even growth. and/or trim after they bloom, for similar reasons. No correction i can make. hawk

[RRS]

The best advice I could give you is to identify what type of plant you're trimming and look them up in a book.

I have a hort degree, but I'd say I learned to identify plants more by just looking up each plant I came across on a day to day basis. We carry a copy of Dirr's in the truck for this purpose.

[RRS]

There is no specific time to trim "hedges". Hedge is just a word that means: A row of closely planted shrubs or low-growing trees forming a fence or boundary.

The time that you prune or trim is only determined by the type of plant you're dealing with. You also need to determine what your end result is going to be, and then make the proper cuts to achieve that goal. You can't shear every plant you come across with hedge trimmers.

Example: Around here Abelia Grandiflora (Glossy abelia) is a pretty common informal border hedge. The proper way to prune Abelia is to remove any dead growth and cut one-third of old stems to the ground each year in late winter or early spring. Doing this will help open the plant up to allow sun to get to the inside of the plant helping it remain full and maintaining the natural form.

9 times out of 10 when we go to a new property with Abelia it's been sheared year after year with hege trimmers, the middle is nothing but dead sticks, and the flowers are sparse. The only option the customer has at this time is replace the plant or begin a 2-3 year rejuvination process.

All I'm saying is just research the proper pruning method for the plant you're working with. Pruning is one of my favorite things to do and I hate to see it done wrong.

[LLee]

I have to agree with the info. on pruning as most people around here have compacta hollies forming hedges or "golf ball' shaped shrubs around their foundation. The unfortunate thing is that most people like them sheared like edward scissorhands was just at their house. In the end if you don't do it the way they want it then they will find someone who will.

[RRS]

In the end if you don't do it the way they want it then they will find someone who will.

That's very true, but that's when it's up to you to educate them. I'd rather not do a job than do it wrong. And I'm not saying never to shear shrubs into a formal shape, hell I got a thread going with a picture of me personally doing just that! Just research what you're cutting first.

[dwyman]

Thanks for the info. Since it is best to cut each plant according to its type, but what if there are 6 diff. plants, and each one should be trimmed at a different time? I'm not worried about making additional trips to trim, I'm worried about making the property look uniform (all manicured at same time).

[ohreallythanks]

if they are all different shrubs they can't be made truely uniform......if cus wants uniformity, then sell him on a new design, and bring in new shrubs of the same type to replace what he has.....jus a thought

[pow]

https://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/nursert/430-462/430-462.html

Go to this website and print out their pruning guide.

[dennis moore]

rejuvination

what is the process for 2-3 rejuvination for hedges with dead centers?
thanxs

There is no specific time to trim "hedges". Hedge is just a word that means: A row of closely planted shrubs or low-growing trees forming a fence or boundary.

The time that you prune or trim is only determined by the type of plant you're dealing with. You also need to determine what your end result is going to be, and then make the proper cuts to achieve that goal. You can't shear every plant you come across with hedge trimmers.

Example: Around here Abelia Grandiflora (Glossy abelia) is a pretty common informal border hedge. The proper way to prune Abelia is to remove any dead growth and cut one-third of old stems to the ground each year in late winter or early spring. Doing this will help open the plant up to allow sun to get to the inside of the plant helping it remain full and maintaining the natural form.

9 times out of 10 when we go to a new property with Abelia it's been sheared year after year with hege trimmers, the middle is nothing but dead sticks, and the flowers are sparse. The only option the customer has at this time is replace the plant or begin a 2-3 year rejuvination process.

All I'm saying is just research the proper pruning method for the plant you're working with. Pruning is one of my favorite things to do and I hate to see it done wrong.

[HayBay]

Like mentioned above with certain plants, You can cut out 1/3 of the hedge one year(the older branches), the second year you cut out another 1/3 of the hedge(the older branches), not the same as you cut the year before. Finally on the third year you cut the final third of the hedge. 3 years later you have completely rejuvinated the plant without it going into stress. Selective triming.