Hedge trimming is something you will need to do every year, sometimes multiple times, because even if the hedges are slow growing, you want to keep them in a certain shape.
However, you may not know that Depending on the type of hedge you have, different types of pruning are practiced. How about we show you how it’s done?
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What do you need to trim a hedge?
If you have hedges in your garden and are dreading when you need to trim them, the best way to forget about the problem is to have everything ready. And in this case, to prune, you will need the following:
- Manual hedge shears. Because sometimes you will have to cut out parts that with other instruments you cannot access, or because you have to delimit and it is easier to do it with a smaller tool than with a big one. For this reason, we recommend having multiple sizes, not just large ones, in hedge shears.
- An electric hedge trimmer. It’s really not necessary if your hedge is small, because you won’t need it and it won’t save you much time. But if you have several and they are large, it will help you get the job done faster and easier. Although later you have to touch up with manual scissors. A little trick to know which one to buy is to look at the cutting teeth. The further apart they are, the better their ability to trim hedges.
Generally, other tools will not be needed for pruning, although it’s sometimes good to have other plant-related ones on hand like a rake to pick up pruning branches, or a product if you notice it has pests or the like.
When is the hedge trimming done?
The first hedge trimmer, to ensure that these are clean and that they grow well is produced in the months of April and May. At this time the hedges will already be active and the most normal thing is that they start to grow.
Depending on the type of plant it is, it will go faster or slower. In general, you should keep in mind that over time you may need to prune some branches, especially if you want it to have a certain shape, so that it doesn’t lose it.
Apart from this important pruning, another is done in September or October, When summer ends. Although we have already told you that it is a year, the truth is that in the vast majority at least two are done. In reality, up to 4 per year can be done.
Types and how hedge trimming is done
Throughout the article we have told you that the size of the hedge is done according to the type of size that is given to it. And you need to understand that there are different types, not just one. What are? We explain them to you and tell you how you should do them.
maintenance pruning
This size is made throughout the year and consists in maintaining the shape of the hedgesespecially if they are formal, i.e. they have a certain shape such as animal figures, squares, circles, etc.
Normally it is the one that occurs when the hedge is already formed, and the shoots are always cut in a straight line and maintaining the silhouette of the shape it has. Now, it is better to cut them when they are 10-15 cm than when they are very small because it can influence the birth more (and not stop it, that’s what we want).
renovation size
This one has like objective of revitalizing the plant, that is, to renew it. To do this, cuts are made at least three quarters of the shoots to help the plant react and new branches appear which are stronger.
Another less drastic option is to cut only two-thirds of the shoots, leaving the rest to the plant to give them more strength.
He is alone it is recommended once a year and always in winter (or in the fall, depending on the weather).
root pruning
This is perhaps the strongest you can do and is only done for hedges that are several years old and are starting to have areas where they don’t shed leaves, or are losing their charm. Instead of uprooting them and replanting others, we can give them a cut where they have the thickest trunk(s).
You could say it leaves it “bald”, and what you do with it is encourage it to branch out and regrow, but with age and acclimatization already done.
Even though this forces you to wait longer to reform it, It’s worth it because the plant is totally renewed and that’s a very good thing.
Tips for trimming hedges correctly
If you want to get a good result, the best thing to do is to use some of the tricks that even the professionals use. For example:
- For him horizontal cut, can you put one rope and cut to the limit of that. This way you won’t leave one hedge shorter than another as they will all follow the same line. As it grows, what you have to do is climb the rope. Of course, be careful with the height limitation.
- For the vertical cutswhich are the most complicated, the best you can do is draw circles when cutting and always go from bottom to top and vice versa go using both sides of the machine and also cut the branches both the leaning ones and the overhanging ones.
- Avoid heavy machinery. You will tire much sooner, especially if you have to cut vertically. You have to treat it like a sickle and handle it like one.
- look for pruning first thing in the morning or late afternoon. This way you won’t suffer from the heat and neither will the plant.
- A few days later, not in the same, throw it out a little manure or fertilizer. If you do it in the winter, take half the recommended dose. It’s a bit of food that will help you heal sooner and heal cuts and start growing new growth.
Do you now know how to trim hedges?