Lawn and yard

Hedge and Shrub Trimming at the Right Time of Year

Hedges and shrubs trimmed, shaped and cut back on a sensible schedule, with all the clippings cleaned up.

Shrubs that are kept in shape make a house look sharp. Shrubs that are left alone can swallow windows, block walkways and crowd the porch steps. Hedge and shrub trimming on the right schedule keeps them healthy, keeps them blooming, and keeps them from taking over.

What we trim

• Boxwood, holly and other evergreen hedges
• Ligustrum and privet hedges
• Azaleas and camellias, after they bloom
• Loropetalum, gardenia and other common foundation shrubs
• Crape myrtles, cleaned up and shaped without 'topping'
• Ornamental grasses cut back at the end of winter
• Small ornamental trees and low limbs
• Overgrown shrubs that are blocking windows, paths or the driveway view

Timing is half the job

The biggest mistake with shrubs is cutting at the wrong time.

• Spring bloomers like azaleas set next year's flower buds in summer. Trim them soon after they finish blooming. Cut them in fall and you'll cut off next spring's flowers.
• Summer bloomers usually do best with a trim in late winter or early spring.
• Evergreen hedges can be shaped in late spring and touched up through the summer.
• Late in the season, avoid heavy trimming. New growth pushed out late can get damaged by the first cold snap.

Our guide on when to trim shrubs and hedges goes into more detail by plant type.

A note on crape myrtles

Cutting crape myrtles down to thick stubs every year is common, but it leaves weak, knobby growth. A better approach is to remove crossing branches, suckers at the base and seed pods, and let the tree keep its natural shape. We'll trim it the way you want, but we'll give you our honest take.

Overgrown shrubs

If shrubs have grown over windows or out into the walk, they can often be brought back. Some, like ligustrum and many hollies, handle a hard cutback. Others, like boxwood, are better reduced a little at a time over a season or two. We'll tell you which is which before we start cutting.

Keep shrubs off the house

Shrubs pressed against siding hold moisture against the walls, block airflow and give bugs an easy way in. Keeping a gap of a foot or so between plants and the house helps the siding dry out in our humid weather.

Pairs well with mowing

You can add trimming to your lawn mowing a few times a season, or roll it into a spring or fall yard cleanup.

Get your shrubs in shape

Call or text (706) 594-5049 with photos of the hedges and shrubs, or use the free estimate form. We'll give you a free estimate. Pricing depends on how many shrubs, their size and how much cleanup there is.