How to Cut Back Shrubs
Shrubs, bushes and hedges are a common feature of modern landscaping, but unkempt shrubs can make yard look overgrown or squelch the growth of other plants. Unless your shrubs have adequate room to expand and you want to maintain a natural look to the shrub, you should consider cutting back new growth throughout the spring and summer to help the plant keep its shape. Many shrubs will respond to trimming by filling in, which can give a yard a more professional look. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hedge trimmer
- Automatic hedge trimmer
- Pruning shears
- Wood saw
- Ladder
- Rake
- Plastic drop cloths
- Leaf bags
Instructions
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Trimming Small Shrubs
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1
Put plastic drop cloths around the shrub.
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2
Use a manual hedge trimmer to cut back new growth. Manual hedge trimmers are more precise then automatic ones, so they are preferred for trimming small hedges without much growth the cut.
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3
Use a pruning shears to remove any dead branches. When cutting with the shears, make a diagonal cut rather than a cut straight down through the branch.
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4
Evaluate the size of the plant and cut it back further if necessary. Shrubs can be cut back to old woody growth safely without harming the plant. Many shrubs can also be pruned back further by cutting back woody growth to a certain length.
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5
Gather the plastic drop cloths, making sure that cuttings do not fall out, and place the cuttings in a leaf bag for disposal.
Trimming Large Shrubs
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6
Use an automatic hedge trimmer to cut back new growth to the desired length. You may have to use a ladder to reach the growth on the top of the plant if the shrub is very large.
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7
Use a manual hedge trimmer to clean up the initial trimming; there will likely be a few spots that were missed by the automatic trimmer.
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8
Use a wood saw or pruning shears to remove dead plant material. Large shrubs like cotoneaster can sometimes have large dead branches or sections that should be removed to make room for new healthy growth.
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9
Use a rake to gather the cuttings and put them into a leaf bag for disposal.
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Tips & Warnings
Different types of shrubs will respond to clipping in different ways. It is a good idea to research guidelines for trimming the specific type of shrub you plan on cutting for more information.
Shrubs that grow rapidly may have to be trimmed several times throughout spring and summer to keep them at the desired size.
