Bush and hedge trimming help your landscape thrive, by encouraging new growth, removing dead portions and maintaining a manageable shape. But what's involved in this process? And does it require training and experience to get the job done right? Catch up on the basics of bush and hedge trimming.

Trimming Tools

Various tools are used to trim bushes and hedges. Cutting requires hedge shears, pruning shears or power trimmers, depending on what type of bush or hedge you're working on. Stakes, string, a mallet and measuring tape allow for precision trimming, which results in healthier bushes and hedges.

Professional landscaping companies that provide hedge trimming services have the gear to handle this project efficiently. Using the right tools allows for a clean cut and minimal distress on the plant. And experienced trimmers can judge the condition of your bush, pruning at the right time for optimum results.

Planning to Trim

The methods used to trim a hedge evolve over the life of the plant. Hand trimming (with small pruners) is often done on a young hedge, while more extensive and precise trimming (with power trimmers or larger pruners) is used on more mature specimens.

Basic clipping is required in the first few years, but shaping creates a full hedge over time. Boxwood needs to be trimmed slightly narrower at the crown, allowing the base to fill out as the hedge grows. Keep the sides of yew, ninebark and hedge rose even and encourage the ends to grow together to form a natural wall or living fence.

Professional trimming takes care of timely methods and helps to establish a thriving landscape of well-maintained bushes and hedges. You can tackle trimming on your own, but be sure to start with the right tools, follow an appropriate schedule and learn how to prune each specific species. You'll need to know more than the basics of bush and hedge trimming to get the job done correctly.