How to Maintain a Hedge Maze

Hedge mazes are great fun, if you have a large enough garden for them. The maze or "walking puzzle" is made out of vertical hedges. But the upkeep can be a great chore and you may be wondering how to maintain a hedge maze.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Plant the right plants. Make sure your hedge maze consists of the plants that grow fast, are easy to maintain, and are easy to shape and prune. Evergreen shrubs that grow larger than five feet are generally used for a hedge maze.

2. Deal with any sick or diseased plants within your hedge maze quickly. Treat the diseased the plants or have them pulled out. Disease amongst plants can quickly spread, creating holes in your hedge maze.

3. Walk your maze consistently to make sure your hedges are growing properly

4. Trim any hedges that are going wild or have any sprouts with pruning sheers. Remove Dead, dying or diseased wood, sprouts, overgrown areas or growth not compatible with the shape you want. Prune your hedges at the appropriate times, depending on the type of plants you have. Most Evergreen shrubs are best pruned or sheared between May 15 and June 15. Remove about half of the new growth. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, do a quick trim to remove any overgrowth and before the freezes start.

5. Trim any hedges that are going wild or have any sprouts with pruning sheers. Remove dead, dying or diseased wood, sprouts, overgrown areas or growth not compatible with the shape you want. Prune your hedges at the appropriate times, depending on the type of plants you have. Most evergreen shrubs are best pruned or sheared between May 15 and June 15. Remove about half of the new growth. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, do a quick trim to remove any overgrowth and before the freezes start.

6. Keep the plants in your hedge maze watered, fertilized and fed to keep them growing healthy. To help maintain your maze, apply winterizers if the plants need it.