Cutting hedges gives the perfect finishing touch to a garden, creates a smart boundary, looks stunning and keeps the neighbors happy. Also, trimming a hedge regularly maintains its shape and prevents problems from unwanted shade. Once upon a time, hedge trimming relied on manual shears; Today, a wide range of power tools are available to make hedge maintenance much easier.
When to make the cut
A good pruning regimen makes it easy to control hedgerows, especially the infamous leylandii. As with most garden maintenance, mowing regularly makes things much easier than putting maintenance off until the hedge has taken over the garden. Most evergreen hedges require trimming a couple of times during the growing season. Conifers need particularly regular attention due to their rapid growth. By comparison, the maintenance of informal hedges is determined by when they bloom: spring for fuchsias and roses; later in the year for berberis and forsythia.
how to cut hedges
With practice, anyone can learn to trim a hedge to perfection. Formal hedges will reward a systematic approach, starting at the top, followed by the sides, and a thorough cleanup of clippings to help prevent the spread of fungal diseases. Guidelines generally recommend that informal hedges be allowed to grow more naturally, with regular trimming to ensure they don’t get out of control. Also don’t forget your dwarf hedges, those delicious varieties of boxwood or rosemary. For these, two hedge trimming sessions should suffice: in spring and again in mid-summer.
Hedge trimming tools
You can trim small runs with hand scissors, a nice and relaxing way to wind down on a warm summer evening. For larger hedges, power tools are a must. And that means one of these:
- electric hands
- Without cable
- Petroleum
The modern electric trimmer is a lightweight, clean and environmentally friendly option, albeit with potential restrictions due to cord length and use in wet conditions. Battery hedge trimmers (also called cordless hedge trimmers) are clean and lightweight and eliminate the hassle of cords. But they have a fairly short runtime between charges, which could be limiting.
On the other hand, gas trimmers can be used anywhere and avoid the danger of a trailing cord. They are also powerful, although they emit smoke, are heavy and noisier than electric machines.
long reach hedge trimmer
Many hedges can be trimmed with standard equipment and a ladder. But for taller hedges, a long-reach telescopic hedge trimmer can make trimming even easier. And of course, because the hedge trimming will be finished sooner, it won’t be long before you’re sitting down with a well-deserved drink to admire an amazing result.