A well maintained hedge can add tremendous aesthetic appeal to your garden. Hedging is a skill rather than a routine, such as lawn mowing. It requires a lot of patience and practice. Hedging techniques vary based on the type of hedge: evergreen or deciduous, flowering or non-flowering, formal or informal. Another factor is the reason for the trim: to increase the thickness of the hedge, to rejuvenate it, and so on.

If you are planning to hire a service, the cost for hedge trimming will depend on the job complexity and the type of hedge. Some designs are very complex, and some shrubs (for example, Leylandii) grow much faster than others (the majority of evergreen trees) and thus make for a more laborious job and more frequent maintenance.

If you are looking to do everything yourself, you will need to do some research. First, read up on the different types of hedge trees and shrubs. The selection is vast: laurel and cedar, leylandii and lilly pilly, bamboo and buxus, caragana and cypress, ficus and griselinia, and so many others. They are all different and each requires a unique approach. Study the plant properties and decide on the shape for your future hedge. Note: it is harder to maintain a hedge with angles (such as rectangular) compared to round.

The next thing is to research the trimmers. For instance, cordless trimmers are more convenient than those with cords, but the battery needs to be recharged every so often. Gas powered trimmers are generally more powerful than electric, and thus they are better for thick branches and large yards with a lot of heavy-duty trimming. You will also need to determine the best blade length for your shrub. Note: hedge trimmer blades need to be sharpened periodically. Other tools and equipment that you may need include: shears, clippers, chainsaw, bags for cleanup, and a ladder to trim taller shrubs.

Maintenance of the hedge also largely depends on the time of year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. You will find guides online that will help you learn all the details, including how to avoid common mistakes. Finally, depending on your area, there may be some restrictions and responsibilities that you need to be aware of.

Basic Tips

Most hedges need their first trimming a year after planting. After trimming, the plant needs your help to recover: water it, fertilize the soil, and add some mulch (bark, chips, peat, or even mowed grass).

The shaping trim is usually done within two years of planting. Use a bright colored wire as a guide to trim it. The follow-up trimmings are done based on growth speed, such as once or a few times a year. The technique changes depending on the result to be achieved, the age and height of the shrub, and other factors. Once the shrub reaches the desired height, the top will need to be trimmed consistently.

The most common hedging mistake is trimming only the ends, and leaving the deeper parts untouched. This can result in drooping and loss of shape. A wrong trim can also leave the bottom bare, with unsightly dead branches and a decreased thickness.