Basics of Pruning and Shaping Shrubs and Bushes
Proper trimming techniques will keep shrubs and bushes healthy and liven the look of your landscape. Learn the basics of pruning and shaping shrubs and bushes in this Lowe’s video:
The best time to prune depends on the plant. Trim early spring-flowering shrubs after they bloom. Summer-flowering plants should be clipped in winter or early spring. For non-flowering plants, trim after new growth has completely formed. Of course, you can do some light trimming throughout the year.
Before you start, lay a tarp down to make clean up easier. Remove growth you don’t want, then thin out spots of thick outer cover. The inner limbs need air and sunlight, so cut back along the branch just above new growth or at the plant base. Avoid using electric trimmers; they just top the shrub, encouraging new growth near the cut. Cutting farther back will encourage growth along the limb. Also, remove any dead limbs near the base.
If possible, avoid making the top wider than the base. Remember, you want sunlight to reach the entire plant. Only cut about 1/3 of the shrub each year. The holes you’re creating will fill in with new growth, making the plants fuller and stronger.
Bushes such as boxwoods can be shaped for a more formal look, and it’s easy to do.
- First, do some general trimming.
- To cut straight lines, you can use your house or other objects as a guide; some pros use stakes and strings as guides. Set them up along the hedges, but don’t set them too deep into cover. Use a level if you really want perfection.
- Slowly run a hedge trimmer along the top and sides, letting the blade do the work. Again, keep the base a bit wider than the top. Step back every once in a while to check your work.
