How to trim a hedge
Sculpted, healthy hedges can help frame your home and provide natural privacy. Whether you’re dealing with an old, overgrown hedge or a brand new one, these easy-to-follow tips can help your hedge dreams blossom into life.
When & how often you should be trimming
Knowing the right time to trim your hedges helps prevent plant shock and promotes dense foliage throughout the year. Remember to always check for nesting birds before starting any cutting work.
- Hedges should be trimmed twice a year
- Late summer and late winter are generally the best options for seasonal trimming
- Don't wait for a new hedge to reach its target height before cutting – prune young growth back lightly during the first few years to help build a sturdy trunk
How to safely trim a hedge
We always recommend sweeping the hedge trimmer in an upward motion, rather than downwards. If you hit a snag, pulling the tool upwards towards you is significantly safer than pushing it down towards your legs. If you do sweep in both directions, use extreme caution.
For chest-high hedges, start by trimming the sides and then move to the top. For taller hedges, we recommend trimming the top first before moving to the sides.
- Don't cut off too much at once – we recommend a maximum of 20% in a single session and 30% per season
- For especially tall or thick hedges, you may need a pole saw or chainsaw to bring the hedge down to the desired height
- Never use a hedge trimmer one-handed
- Don't force the tool when it encounters thick twigs or branches
- Wear eye protection, hearing protection, and gloves when working
Hedge renovation & shaping
With time and patience, severely overgrown hedges can be restored. Start by cutting back a significant portion of the hedge height, down to 3-4 ft. This encourages rapid new growth through the stems, which can be maintained and shaped as it grows.
After seasonal maintenance trimming, you can focus on shaping your hedge. For a crisp square hedge, you can cut off a small corner on each edge – this will help it grow into a more square shape over time.
How do I maintain my hedge trimmer?
For the best results, it’s important to keep your hedge trimmer blades sharp. If you notice the blades are dull and need to be sharpened, take your trimmer to your local Husqvarna dealer for service.
Shop our range of premium hedge trimmers
Whether gas or battery, our user-friendly hedge trimmers let you handle any hedges with ease. From intuitive controls to balanced designs, we’ve thought through every detail to bring you the optimal trimming experience – no matter what you’re cutting.
