How to Trim a Juniper Hedge

Juniper hedges look soft and natural if trimmed properly each year.

Junipers are narrow-leaved evergreens that do not require as much pruning as broad-leaved trees. Care must be taken when trimming these hedges because of the "dead zone" in the center of the shrub. If trimmed back too far, the shrub will not recover. Trimming to make the shrub look like a square is not the best way to trim, either, as it can lead to damage to the hedge during the fall and winter. Using the correct tools and trimming the right way will give you a soft, green hedge for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Small hand shears
• Manual hedge shears

Instructions

1. Start trimming at the bottom of the shrub to develop fullness while tapering to a narrower and rounded top. This will allow sun and air to get to the bottom branches and keep snow, ice and debris from collecting on the top of the hedge.

2. Pinch off branch tips or cut with small hand shears at the bottom. This should be done in early spring each year before the new growth appears.

3. Make 45-degree angle cuts as you move toward the top, cutting back an inch each spring until the shrubs start to come together as a hedge. By cutting back to the nearest bud, the new growth that emerges will cover the stub where you cut.

4. Use manual hedge shears to trim the juniper shrubs once they come together as a hedge to shape them as you want them. Never use electric shears on juniper as they will tear the branches, making the shrub unhealthy and giving it an unnatural look.

5. Snip off any unruly branches any time of the growing season. Continue to trim each spring and never cut more than 20 percent of the shrub a year. If you cut into the area with no green shoots, the shrub will not recover.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow the shrubs to grow without trimming for the first year after planting.

References

• University of Missouri Extension: Pruning Ornamental Shrubs
• Texas A&M University: Follow Proper Pruning Techniques