Give your hedge the haircut it deserves

Does your hedge look lanky, uneven, or full of gaps? A sharp trim while the plants are still young builds the thick, even wall you pictured when you planted it.

Why early shaping protects your investment

Young hedge plants put on quick vertical growth. If you let them stretch unchecked:

• Top shoots rob food from lower branches.
   

• Sunlight never reaches the base, so it thins out.
   

• Winter winds bend long stems that have no side support.
   

Starting your pruning programme in the first year channels energy into lateral shoots. The hedge thickens, stands up to weather, and needs less rescue work later.

Timing counts: make the most of seasonal growth

• Spring: Clip soft tips to trigger side shoots.
   

• Mid-summer: Give a light tidy to keep the outline sharp.
   

• Autumn: Complete one firm trim, as shown in the video, so the hedge faces winter neat and compact.
   

• Winter: Rest time. Avoid heavy cuts when growth slows and sap retreats.
   

Griselinia, our most-sold coastal hedge, responds well to an autumn tidy. Cut back this year’s extension shoots by one-third. The plant sets new flower buds and fresh sides before cold weather arrives.

Tools that keep cuts clean

1. Sharp bypass secateurs: Slice single stems up to 15 mm thick.
    

2. Long-reach loppers: Tackle older wood without bruising it.
    

3. Battery hedge trimmer: Glide along the face for a consistent plane.
    

4. Cotton gloves and eye protection: Safety first, always.
    

Wipe blades with methylated spirits between plants to stop disease transfer.

Four golden rules for hedge trimming

1. Cut narrow at the top, wide at the base
   A gentle A-shape lets light reach lower leaves, preventing bald ankles.
    

2. Remove vertical leaders often
   Snip soft tips every 6 - 8 weeks in the first two seasons. This move forces two side shoots for every one you cut off.
    

3. Never gouge into old wood on evergreens
   Griselinia, Photinia, and Pittosporum rarely sprout from bare trunks. Keep cuts in the leafy zone.
    

4. Feed after pruning
   Sprinkle slow-release garden fertiliser and water well. Fresh nutrients power quick recovery and flowering where species allow.
    

Action checklist

• Walk the hedge and mark uneven spots with garden chalk.
   

• Sharpen blades before cutting, blunt tools tear not cut.
   

• Trim top first, then sides, keeping blades parallel to the hedge face.
   

• Rake clippings, compost healthy material, bin any diseased stems.
   

• Water and feed to kick-start new growth.