Lawn and yard

When to Trim Shrubs and Hedges in West Georgia

Prune at the right time for each shrub so you keep next year's flowers and get thick, healthy hedges.

Pruning at the wrong time is the most common reason a shrub doesn't flower. The cut itself isn't the problem. It's the timing. The basic rule for when to trim shrubs is simple: prune based on when a shrub blooms, not on when you have a free Saturday.

The basic rule

• Spring bloomers: prune right after they finish flowering.
• Summer bloomers: prune in late winter, before new growth starts.
• Non-flowering hedges and evergreens: shape in late spring through mid-summer, and stop by late summer.

Spring bloomers set next year's buds on this year's growth, during summer. If you prune them in fall or winter, you cut off next spring's flowers. Summer bloomers flower on new growth, so a late-winter trim doesn't cost you blooms.

Common west Georgia shrubs

Prune right after blooming (spring bloomers)

• Azaleas. Trim soon after flowers fade, usually by early summer.
• Forsythia. Prune right after its yellow flowers drop.
• Spirea (spring-blooming types), loropetalum and camellias. Prune after flowering.
• Bigleaf hydrangeas (the blue or pink mophead kind). These bloom on old wood. If you must prune, do it right after flowering, by mid-summer. Many need little pruning beyond removing dead stems.

Prune in late winter (summer bloomers)

• Crape myrtles. Late winter, before leaves come out. Remove suckers, crossing branches and dead wood. Don't top them.
• Abelia and butterfly bush. Late winter.
• Panicle and smooth hydrangeas (like Annabelle). These bloom on new wood, so late winter is fine.

Shaping hedges and evergreens

• Boxwood, hollies, ligustrum, cleyera and similar hedges can be shaped from late spring through mid-summer.
• A second light trim in early summer keeps formal hedges neat.
• Avoid heavy shearing in late summer or fall. New growth may not harden off before frost.

When in doubt about a specific plant, your county UGA Cooperative Extension office has good, free advice.

How to trim a hedge so it stays thick

• Make the bottom wider than the top. A hedge that's slightly narrower at the top lets sunlight reach the lower branches. Hedges trimmed straight up and down or wider at the top often go bare at the bottom.
• Don't cut into bare wood on most evergreens. Many won't regrow from old, leafless stems.
• Take a little at a time. It's easier to cut more than to wait for growth to come back.
• Thin, don't just shear, on flowering shrubs. Removing a few older stems at the base lets light in and keeps the shrub healthy.

Mistakes to avoid

• Fall pruning of spring bloomers. It's the number one bloom killer.
• Topping crape myrtles. Weak sprouts and ugly knobs follow.
• Shearing everything into balls. Some shrubs, like azaleas, look better with a natural shape.
• Pruning during a drought. Stressed plants recover slowly. Water first if it's been dry.
• Dull tools. Clean cuts heal better. Sharpen shears and pruners, and wipe them off between plants if you see disease.

Safety and nesting birds

Check hedges for bird nests before you trim in spring and early summer. And keep shrubs trimmed back a foot or so from siding, windows and AC units. That helps airflow, cuts down on moisture against the house and makes pests less likely to move in.

If a shrub is touching power lines, don't trim it yourself. Call your power company.

Overgrown shrubs

Sometimes a shrub has gotten way too big. Many can be cut back hard to rejuvenate them, but timing matters, and some shrubs won't recover. Late winter is usually best for hard cutbacks on plants that tolerate it. For badly overgrown beds, starting fresh with a yard cleanup is sometimes the better path.

For the rest of the yard year, see our lawn care calendar for west Georgia.

Let us handle the trimming

We offer hedge and shrub trimming along with mowing and yard cleanup, and we'll haul off the clippings. Text a photo of your shrubs to (706) 594-5049, or use our free estimate form for a free estimate.