Tips for Hedges

Hedges serve some important landscape functions. Hedges mark boundaries for property, walks and drives, act as fences to animals and people, serve as windbreaks or prevent snow drifts and provide privacy.

Hedges, especially formal hedges, require time to establish them as well as annual pruning. Rapid growing plants like privet require more frequent cutting. Select material, which has a mature height only slightly greater than desired. Evergreen hedges maintain their foliage all winter. They are therefore useful as windbreaks during the winter months. However, if not properly located, evergreen hedges can cause snow to accumulate on the driveway or paths. Also, heavy snow can cause severe structural damage to evergreen hedges.

Correct training and pruning of hedges during establishment is critical if one is going to have a functional and attractive hedge. Hedges with insufficient base branches (density) as well as V-shaped hedges, are common. Immediately after planting, cut back deciduous hedges to 6 to 8 inches above the soil line. This is done to develop branching, density, near the base of the hedge. While a variety of hedge shapes or forms are possible, it is necessary to have the base wider than the top. This allows the lower portion of the hedge to receive adequate lightlight for the hedge to remain healthy. Proper cutting of the hedge can help develop the desired form and density. Every time the hedge branches grow 12 inches, cut the new growth back to 6 inches. Continue with this method until the hedge reaches the height you require. This will be a slow process and can take many years.

Once the hedge is established, most formal hedges require two shearings a year. Rapidly growing plants like privet require four to six shearings a season. Each time six inches of new hedge growth occurs, remove two-thirds of this growth. Narrow-leaved evergreen hedges require less training and pruning than deciduous hedges. But just like a deciduous hedge, adequate density and the correct form is essential. Junipers and yews can be pruned throughout the growing season, although the more severe pruning should be done in early spring. Don't prune back to wood that lacks foliage, especially with Junipers, because new buds will not develop on this wood. For pines, cut only into new growth when new needles are the same size and colour as old needles.