Hedges look best and trimming them is easier overall if you make sure to keep up on it and trim regularly. The following are some tips for trimming hedges:

How often do you need to trim?
The answer to this depends on the type of hedges you have. Privet and bush honeysuckle, two common types of hedges, need to be trimmed once a month or so during their growing season in the spring and late winter. If you have conifer, box, yew, or holly hedges, also common types of hedges, these will need to be trimmed at a minimum of once a year, but a few times a year will make them look best.

What supplies do I need?
You don't need a lot of supplies for trimming your hedges. Some of the more commonly used ones include:

• A carpenter's level or string level for large hedges


• Scissors


• Stakes and string


• Pruning shears


• Electric hedge trimmers or shears


• Tape measure

Deciding what tools you are using depends on the type of hedge as well as how much trimming you need. Shears, whether electric or now, will work well on softer hedges like honeysuckle. Electric trimmers work best on harder or more twig-like growth, where a little extra power will leave a more even cut. Minimal trimming can be done with scissors or hand pruners.

Trimming the top of your hedges
First you will need to make a guide to help you follow as you cut the hedges. This will ensure that you are trimming them evenly in a straight line, since it is virtually impossible to eye ball a straight line when trimming hedges. A brightly colored piece or string or twine is a good guide that you can see easily.

Next, decide how high you want your hedges and put two stakes (higher than your hedges) on the ends of the areas you are planning on trimming. Tie the string to both ends of the hedges as high as you want the hedges to be when you are done trimming them.

You can now start trimming the hedges by clipping the hedges with your trimmers or shears a the heights of the string. Continue cutting, using the string as your guide, until you are finished. Follow the string closely and it will make for a nice, even line on your hedges.

Trimming the sides of your hedges
You can also use the string guide to trim the sides of your hedges as well. When trimming the sides of your hedge, taper them so they are wider at the bottom than the top; this will make it so sun reaches the bottom branches and keep them from getting too sparse.

Where to cut
You can use your hand pruners to cut each piece of hedge one by one. As a general rule, you should always cut just above a leaf to keep it from dying, and cut the branch at a slight angle.

Trimming your hedges a few times a year is important for keeping a well-manicured landscape. These are just a few tips for trimming your hedges.