Shrubs and hedges shaped back up at the right time of year, so the whole property looks finished, not just the grass.
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Timing is the part most people get wrong. MU Extension's pruning guide says shrubs that flower in spring, like forsythia, lilac, spirea and viburnum, should be trimmed right after they finish blooming. Cut them in early spring and you cut off that year's flowers. Shrubs that bloom in summer, like rose of Sharon, crape myrtle and butterfly bush, are trimmed before new growth starts in spring. MU also says to skip major pruning in late summer and early fall, since it can push out new growth that the first freeze kills.
Hedges have their own rules. MU says most hedges need trimming at least twice a year, and some three or four times. The key is shape: trim so the base is wider than the top. If the top gets wider, it shades the bottom and the base turns thin and open. MU also says to save shearing for hedges, because once a natural shrub has been sheared it is almost impossible to bring its natural form back. Boxwood, which MU calls an excellent hedge plant, takes a tight shape well.
Some shrubs are less forgiving than others. MU notes that junipers seldom grow back from bare stubs, so the cut has to stay in the green. Yews can handle a much harder cutback, and overgrown arborvitae should not lose more than about 20 percent at once. Light trims, under about 10 percent of the plant, can happen any time of year. Bigger cuts wait for February or March. MU's advice is a little trimming every year instead of a big rescue after years of neglect.
It depends on the shrub. MU Extension says spring bloomers like forsythia, lilac and spirea get trimmed right after they flower, and summer bloomers like rose of Sharon and crape myrtle before new growth starts in spring. Heavy cuts in late summer and early fall can lead to new growth that freezes.
MU says most hedges need it at least twice a year, and some three or four times. Regular light trims keep the shape much easier to hold than one big cut a year.
Usually the top has gotten wider than the base and shades it out. MU's pruning guide says to always trim so the base is wider than the top. It can take a few trims over a season or two to bring the shape back.
Mowing, edging, trimming, overgrown yard cleanup, leaf cleanup, and bush and hedge trimming. If you're not sure, just ask.
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