Hedges are one of the most critical components of the garden. Therefore, grooming becomes vital to maintain the overall beauty of the garden. You may have noticed that periodic trimming and pruning leave a non-uniform touch on your garden. Hence, you need to give a little extra attention to the shape of these hedges. If you think this process is time-consuming and boring, you need to re-think because, with the right guidance, trimming hedges can be easy.
This article offers some smart tips that you can follow for a well-groomed and trimmed garden. If you’re a beginner, you ought to know certain criteria or points to keep in mind before beginning the trimming process. Here are a few common questions that can arise and their most simplistic answers for your start.
When Do Hedges Require A Trim?
Most varieties of hedges require a trim starting from May to October. Below is a list of species of hedges and the months for which they need an edge:
October– Fagus sylvatica
September- Taxus baccata
August- Carpinus betulus
July– Boxus
June– Crataegus
May- Ligustrum, Lonicera nitida, Viburnum tinus
Other factors that dictate when your hedges require a trim depends on whether the hedges are flowering or non-floral. Species of viburnum are floral and need an edge because they otherwise seem to be untidy. Other hedges such as Taxus and Boxes are formal and require a crisp and uniform trim for a refined look. Also, consider the textures and growth patterns of the hedges because most needs grow informally. Though they need little maintenance, you have to keep an eye on them at least twice a year.
Should The Hedges Be Water Before A Trim?
Hedges grow stiff and dry, mainly during the summer. One piece of advice is to clip the hedges in summer only after watering them. Doing so will reduce the crispness and refine the texture to give a smooth-shaped cut.
How To Trim The Hedges In A Perfect Shape?
We judge our vision and cut the lines thinking it is a uniform cut most of the time. However, make sure to keep support that would shape your trim. You can create a wooden template and keep it aligned with the hedges to give the desired shape. Apart from the shape, it will also consider the level hence maintain a complete uniformity.
How Do You Select The Right Trimming Tools?
For trimming hedges, mostly a power hedge trimmer or a manual hedge shear is utilized. The power trimmer is much easier to use because of its long blade that cuts the hedges uniformly. Apart from these tools, other equipment such as hand-held pruners and pruning loppers are perfect for shrubs.
How To Trim A Tall Hedge?
Tall hedges are challenging to maintain because you cannot reach the top to shape them accordingly. Most people make use of scaffold towers to chop these. Another piece of advice would be to use a mechanical trimmer with a blade to chop the extreme ends with ease in the right direction.
