Shrub Trimming 101
Shrubs have a tendency to grow out of control if they’re not properly maintained. While one reason people trim their shrubs is to maintain a certain aesthetic, there are many reasons it’s an essential practice.
FIVE REASONS YOU SHOULD TRIM YOUR SHRUBS
- Increase Natural Light
Sunlight is essential for your shrubs’ health. If they become too large and overgrown, sunlight will only reach the outermost portion of the shrub and can’t easily get to the roots, or the plants’ inner branches. - Promote Healthy Shrub Growth
Trimming your shrubs encourages them to grow in a healthy, symmetrical way.
- Reduce Disease
If you allow diseased, dying, or dead branches to remain in your shrubs, it can affect the plant’s overall health. Disease and rot from unhealthy branches can spread to other parts of the shrub, creating further problems. - Help With Growing Fruits and Flowers
To look and perform their best, flowering or fruiting shrubs need regular trimming.
- Improve Appearance
The most apparent reason to trim your shrubs is to improve or maintain their appearance. Overgrown or asymmetrical shrubs can make your property feel small and unsightly.
TIPS FOR TRIMMING SHRUBS
How you trim your shrubs depends on your goals and the type of shrub, but there are some general best practices:
Tip 1: Decide the best time of year to trim and prune your shrubs based on your goals for the plants. Check out our blog post on when to prune trees and shrubs for more information.
Tip 2: Lay out a tarp by the shrubs you’ll be trimming for easy clean-up.
Tip 3: Remove any dead, dying, or diseased branches before getting started.
Tip 4: When you trim your shrubs, try to make the top smaller than the base. This will ensure that enough sunlight is getting to the roots.
Tip 5: If you are trimming a row of shrubs or hedges, use two stakes on each side of the row as a guide. Attach the stakes with a piece of string on each side and then cut above the string. Eyeballing it can leave you with an uneven appearance.
Tip 6: Do not remove more than 1/3 of a given shrub. This will make it weaker and more susceptible to disease.