Cutting hedgesis a procedure that has a decisive influence on their formation and final shape. See when is the besthedge cutting dateandhow to trim a hedgeto make it grow fast, thick and he althy. What is the difference between cutting coniferous hedges and cutting hardwood hedges? Which tools to choose for trimming each type of hedge? What to do to prevent the hedge from becoming bald from the bottom? Here are all thesecrets of cutting hedges ! "
Cutting thuja hedge
If we plan to shield our plot from the prying eyes of neighbors, noise from a busy street or mask not very impressive places in the garden, such as a composter and a garbage can, it is worth considering planting a hedge.
Green walls made of appropriately selected species of coniferous or deciduous shrubs can not only fulfill a masking function, but also perfectly serve as decorative elements, adding character and depth to the garden assumptions. Monotonous, and therefore gray and sad, concrete fences and plastic nets can be replaced, with a little desire, with a beautiful row of flowering shrubs or a lush green wall made of formed varieties of yew, thuja or beech trees.However, a hedge requires systematic maintenance, without which won't work if we want a perfect looking planting.
When to trim a hedge?
After planting hedge shrubs, many people wonder when and how to start forming plants. So that our efforts are not wasted, and the green screens quickly reach the required height and enjoy the lush greenery for as long as possible, you should learn the secrets of their cutting and forming.
Don't be afraid to trim. Plants will respond to a properly carried out treatment with rapid expansion and lush growth. However, it should not be forgotten thathedge cutting should be carried out systematicallyOtherwise some species will lose their habit and the whole establishment will lose its beauty.
Evergreen plants such as e.g. thuja and cypress trees. Failure to form even for one season will result in excessive growth of plants in width and inability to re-shape them.Why? Because the woody parts of the branches do not have dormant buds, thanks to which the plant would develop new branches and regain its original habit. Once trimmed too much, they will never regenerate again. At least not as much as we would like.
This rule does not apply to the cutting of the common yew. This species of coniferous tree, naturally occurring in Poland, regenerates remarkablyafter a very strong pruning , regaining its form after just one season.It usually looks even better than before cutting. It is related to the presence of dormant buds on woody shoots.
The first cutting of the hedgeshould be carried out in the spring, as soon as the danger of severe frosts is over, in the first season after planting. We cut young plants at a height of 20 - 30 cm, regardless of whether we intend to lead them in the form of formed hedges or not. Such a procedure will result in a strong thickening of the bushes from the very base, thanks to which the future hedge will obtain a beautiful, compact structure along its entire height.
The next hedge cutsshould be carried out at least once a year, leaving 2 to 30 cm of new growth at a time, depending on what kind of hedge we want to obtain and how many seasons we are going to devote to its formation. The besthedge cut dateis March / April when the plants are just starting to grow and the weather is warm and sunny.Rapid scarring of pruning wounds (the easiest way to do this in spring) is especially important if we want to avoid the subsequent fight against fungal diseases attacking hedge plants. The last cut should take place, however, by the first decade of August at the latest, so that the new growths can become woody before winter. Otherwise, there is a high probability of freezing of the topmost parts of the hedge during severe frosts in January.
Hedge cutting technique
Regardless of what species of plants are part of our hedge, we always start cutting from the sides. In order for the cutting line to be as straight as possible, the string should first be unrolled parallel to the upper edge and the second one halfway up - these will be references to which we will carry outhedge cuttingIf.webp we have electric scissors, the direction of movement is important - first down to remove unnecessary fragments of shoots, and then back up, during which we correct previous mistakes.When we finish working on the sides, we can start trimming the vertices (the so-called ridge). We do it by holding the scissors horizontally and doing half-turns with the torso - doing this will ensure a more even cutting line than if you move the tool with your hands alone.
When we haveordinary hedge trimmerspowered only by the strength of our muscles, it is worth to keep the lines even, unfasten the strings at the target height to which we want to shorten the plants. This will greatly facilitate the possible correction and prevent large deviations of the cutting plane and the ending should be checked if the hedge corners are as they should be and possibly evened out, and then try to remove all cut shoots. They can be reused as organic mulch or compost material after prior grinding in a branch shredder.
Shrubs after pruning should be supplemented with compound fertilizerwith an increased share of nitrogen and keep the soil around them moist. This will result in a quick growth of new shoots and an overall improvement in the condition of the hedge.
Hedge shaping cut
We choose the appropriate form of the hedgenot only in relation to the species of plants that make it up, but also to the position of their cultivation. In much shaded areas, it is worth ensuring that the hedge has a trapezoidal cross-section. The main advantages of this method of guidance are the even access of light to all floors, which causes the same color of the leaves along the entire height of the side wall of the hedge and its even growth. In this case, care consists in regular trimming of the roots so that the plants retain their proper shape. If we want to have a hedge with such a cross-section and a height of more than 3 meters, we should choose maples, yews or elm trees, as well as garden varieties with colorful leaves.
If we want to have ahedge with an extraordinary formcomposed of privet, barberry or even laurel leaves, it is worth forming the back of such planting in the shape of an arch.This will make the whole thing more gentle, and the appearance of a garden surrounded by such a hedge will change significantly. Such planting should slightly extend downwards for the reasons mentioned above. In this case, shaping requires a little more practice, but we can make it much easier by making a light frame covered with a net from PVC pipes, which will be a determinant of the planehedge cuttingThis method has been proven and practiced for many years by a large group of people who care for such shaped hedges.
A trimmed low hedge as a border for the rebate
Interesting cut hedge ideas
How about a hedge made of only roses?
The idea is interesting and worth closer attention, especially if we use tall varieties of park roses that repeat flowering. It is worth looking around the nurseries for plants with a minimum height of 1.5 meters that are highly resistant to diseases.For country gardens, it is also worth choosing wild species or old English varieties of roses - although they bloom only once, then they are decorated with colorful fruit until late autumn. In order to protect the property from the visits of uninvited guests, it is worth investing in the purchase of crinkled rose or multiflorous rose seedlings with densely arranged shoots and sharp spikes, which will surely deter potential robbers.
"Another interesting solution seen in our southern neighbors is to create an opening of any shape and size in the compact hedge wall. Such forms are a window to the world, or at least to the neighboring part of the garden. When implementing this idea, it is worth using a template and remove the rapidly growing shoots around the hole several times a year, while ensuring that its original shape is not disturbed.
Hedge cutting tools
The prices of gardening equipment have changed dramatically in recent years.Although the market sometimes offers devices at very bargain prices, before buying them, it is worth considering whether they meet the criteria we set for them and whether it is better to invest in slightly more expensive devices, which are made of much better materials and often have a manufacturer's warranty for several months? This principle also applies to all kinds of hedge shears and shears.
Handheld scissors and secateursWhen caring for hedges, you obviously need the right cutting tools. Mechanical shears can be used to trim low edged hedges made of perennials and shrubs, from which only non-lignified shoots are removed. If we come across slightly thicker and already woody shoots, then scissors will help us, which allows us to cut both dry and wet twigs at the very base.
Based on my own experience, I especially recommend professional garden secateurs with a shift.These secateurs make it possible to cut fairly thick branches with relatively little pressure. This saves time and makes cutting much easier.For cutting larger surfaces, it is worth using a special lever hedge trimmer equipped with a unique system that increases the cutting force by more than three times. They also have bumpers to prevent hand injuries during work, and a specially adapted pruner blade for a clean cut.
In order to correct the shape or cut out sick and dried branches, it is worth getting a good-quality secateurs for larger branches.
Electric scissors
For those who appreciate the convenience and speed of cutting, we can recommend the purchase of one of the models of electric hedge trimmerhedge cuttingThese are mechanical devices with guides up to 65 cm long. It is very helpful for larger hedges as it allows you to obtain perfectly even cutting surfaces without any additional methods.Since such scissors are quite heavy (the weight, depending on the model, varies between 4-5 kg), they should be used mainly by men.
How to become confident in pruning plants?
If you are unsure how to cut or simply afraid to do it, the fantastic book "Cutting School" will help you. Thanks to it, you will gain confidence in pruning plants and learn to cut plants so that they grow according to your expectations. After reading this book, your approach to pruning plants will probably change completely!
