How often should you trim hedges?
Hedges need to be trimmed once or twice per year depending on how well kept you want them to look.
How often your hedges need to be trimmed is also determined by 4 factors:
- Species of hedge
- How much rain and sun they’ve received
- The time of year.
- Your property needs.
- The type of hedge you have.
The best time to trim a hedge is usually before winter. This is because there is reduced humidity and that makes it harder for bacteria and pests to live on the leaves. There is also few leaves at this time so you can see what you’re cutting and eliminate areas that are too overgrown.
Why is hedge trimming important?
One of the main factors for keeping hedges trimmed is to keep them under control. If you leave your hedge too long without trimming it can be hard to cut it back to the thickness you require without ruining the foliage.
You can start to have areas of dieback that won’t recover. By keeping a hedge trimmed regularly you will find the sides of the hedge will thicken up and there won’t be spaces or holes between the foliage.
Not only can unruly hedges devalue your property, the right styling can provide your own natural oasis while enhancing the yard’s trees, gardens, lawns, and hardscapes like patios, stairs, stonewalls, and sidewalks.
When trimmed regularly, hedges can be formed into fences that line your property and there are many perennial options that remain green year round.