Shrub Trimming - How to do it right

Shrubs are aesthetically appealing and add a lot to flower beds, but what are you supposed to do when they get out of control? What is the best way to keep a healthy plant and a beautiful lawn?

Trimming vs. Pruning-
When people say "Shrub trimming" they are generally referring to shearing a bush. This is usually done to shape the shrub. How does this relate to pruning and what is the difference? Pruning can be done to any plant and its purpose is more geared towards improving the health of the plant. Here are a few techniques and some information on trimming and pruning your shrubs.

When to trim-
Trimming should be done in spring and the fall on a yearly basis. In the spring, it is important to trim before
the plant buds, otherwise the flowers will not bloom. In the early fall the branches will probably be a little long and they will need to be trimmed again.

Why trim?
You may be wondering if you really need to trim or why you need to. Shrubs and trees can get out of control and look very messy. The best way to restore order to your bed is to trim them, usually to a specific shape. Pruning can also be important for the health of a plant because it removes useless parts of the plant. This can be beneficial in 3 ways. 1. Dead limbs allow disease to spread through the plant quickly. 2. By cutting off the ends, you encourage new growth and your bush will stay healthy. 3. Aesthetically, orderly plants are much preferred over disorderly.

How to trim-
There are three basic ways to trim plants, some of which are for looks and others are for health reasons.

1. A heading cut is a small cut to the end of a branch, twig, or stem. Every cut you make allows for a new shoot to grow. When done correctly, this method will make keep your plants bushy and full.

2. Thinning is another method in which you remove the branches at the point of origin. When done in moderation, thinning reduces the shrub density without encouraging regrowth. 

3. Trimming is the final method. This is done to shape the plant and make it look clean. An important thing to remember about this is that you shouldn't cut to the bare branch because it looks bad.


Tyler Kaiser
T. J. Landscaping Inc.