Landscaping adds beauty to any home. Whether you inherit a landscape installation when buying a new house or did the landscaping yourself, there’s a good chance you have shrubs and/or hedges in the landscape. These types of plants are fairly low maintenance and look great in the landscape. In the case of evergreens, they also provide year-round color.
Though shrubs and hedges don’t usually require a lot of upkeep, there are a few things you’ll want to do to keep them healthy and looking good. Two techniques used to keep greenery looking its best are pruning and trimming. While both terms are often used interchangeably, pruning and trimming are different things.
Pruning usually applies to trees and shrubs, while trimming applies to hedges. There are different times during the year for doing each task. They also require different types of equipment, and we trim and prune for different reasons. Keep reading for maintenance tips that will keep your trees, shrubs, and hedges looking aesthetically appealing.
Pruning
Pruning involves selectively removing branches from the plant. We prune trees and shrubs for several reasons. You can prune to take out dead branches, remove loose or damaged branches, shape the plant, and/or trigger new growth. While it can be used to help revive neglected plants, you should treat pruning as yearly maintenance.
Regular pruning helps keep plants healthy. Dying stubs or branches can leave a plant susceptible to insects or diseases that can spread, so you must prune out dead or broken branches. Pruning also helps you keep the plant looking good by taking out crossing branches and maintaining an attractive shape.
It’s a good idea to always cut with a sterile blade and disinfect the blades between each cut. Make your cuts on a 45-degree slant. Water that pools on a flat-topped cut can invite fungus or disease, but cutting on an angle allows rainwater to slide off. For best results, use hand pruners, loppers, shears, or saws to prune out branches.
Trimming
While pruning is focused on the health of a plant, trimming focuses more on tidying up the appearance. Instead of cutting out whole branches, you’re trimming off the tips of the branches and leaves near the edge of the plant. For many plants, you’ll want to prune as well as trim to keep them healthy and looking good. Always look up tips for taking care of your specific type of plant. Some shrubs, like boxwoods, respond well to trimming. Others look better when allowed to grow into their natural shape.
You may need to trim formal hedges two to three times a year, while informal hedges generally only need to be trimmed once. Plan to trim in the spring and/or the fall since most shrubs and hedges grow the most during these seasons.
You can use hand-held shears for trimming. However, electric, battery, or gasoline-powered hedge trimmers will get the job done a lot faster. These power tools make it easy to quickly trim and shape shrubs and hedges.
A Few More Tips
For evergreen shrubs and trees, prune and trim right after the last frost date or in mid-summer. Evergreens like pine often have sticky sap, so be extra diligent about cleaning off pruners or hedge trimmer blades.
If you’re growing flowering shrubs, be sure to look up the best pruning time for individual plants. Some plants bloom on new growth and you should trim or prune those before they bloom. Others bloom on old growth, so you’ll need to wait to prune or trim until after they bloom if you want to see flowers.
For more pruning and trimming tips, click here to read our article “What’s The Difference Between Pruning And Trimming Your Trees and Shrubs? And Why Should You Care?”
Hedge Trimmer Types and Maintenance
There are a few different types of hedge trimmers. The type of equipment you usually think of when you hear “hedge trimmer” is a hand-held power tool with double-sided cutting blades. You can also get single-sided blade models, often with a guard or clipping collector on the side opposite the cutting blade. Extended reach or pole-trimmer models are also available for cutting tall hedges.
Electric and battery-powered trimmers are low maintenance, lightweight, and environmentally friendly. Gasoline-powered trimmers can be more powerful, and they’re easier to refuel if you’re moving between job sites. For all trimmers, keeping up with simple maintenance like lubricating and sharpening the blades will help keep the trimmer running smoothly. Be sure to clean the trimmer before storage, and clean air intakes and filters regularly to keep the engine or motor running smoothly.
If you’re looking for new tools to prune and trim shrubs, hedges, and trees, stop in at Richardson Saw & Lawnmower to chat with one of our friendly power equipment experts. We can answer any questions you have and help you find the tools you need to get the job done right.
