How to Trim Evergreen Shrubbery

Are you tired of looking at the same old mis-shaped shrubs? This article will tell you how to trim and shape them so they look beautiful in front of your home.

Things You'll Need

• Electric hedge trimmers or
• Manual hedge shears

Instructions

1. Shake off any leaves that may have gotten stuck inside the shrubs over the fall. Decide whether you want then square shrubs or round shrubs. For this article we will do round shrubs. Check to see if all of the shrubs are approximately the same size.

2. Determine how tall and how wide you want your shrubs. Some shrubbery grows better and faster if you only trim off the outer layer of stray limbs and leaves. Begin by using the trimmers or shears on the sides. Start at the bottom and work your way to the top. Cut all stray or "wild" limbs and leaves working around the shrub.

3. Step back and look at the shape. If it is not round, find the flat spots and begin trimming on each side of the flat spot to round it out. When you have finished with the sides, begin at the lowest point of the top and trim away all excess. Keep your trimmers or shears level as you work.

4. Complete one shrub at a time before moving on to the next shrub. When moving to the next shrub, instead of beginning at the bottom on the sides, begin at the top and try to cut the top even with the first one. Once you have completed the top, then you can move to the sides. Continue trimming in this manner until all shrubs are trimmed alike.

Tips & Warnings

• If you make a mistake, don't panic, it will grow back.

• Some holes are expected but will fill in with new growth.

• Try to keep the width of each shrub even with the first one.

• Do not trim too far towards the center of the shrub.

• Do not try to trim a tall shrub down to match a short shrub.