Pruning Evergreen Hedges and Topiary Shapes

Shaping Cedar, Yew and Boxwood for Regeneration and Neatness

Aug 12, 2009

Evergreens are perfectly happy to be left alone other than the removal of dead or dying wood and the occasional feeding, but pruning can give an evergreen renewed vigor.

There are several reasons a gardener may want to prune or cut back her evergreens. One may be to remove the dead or diseased branches. Another might be to have a neatly trimmed hedge. The gardener may even want to shape her evergreen into a topiary or rejuvenate a sad old shrub that has long been neglected.

When to Prune Evergreens

Evergreens are generally carefree and need little pruning or other attention, but if it must be done, the best time to do it is in spring, just before the growing season begins and after the threat of frost has passed. A light clipping will improve the health of the plant and offer more new shoots.

Pruning for a Hedge

Cut back no more than one third of the woody branches. If it's a shrub that needs its height, leave the growing tip or leader at the top. If a hedge needs shaping, leave the top alone until it's reached the desired height. Pruning a hedge on two sides will allow lots of new growth for dense privacy. The aim in pruning evergreens is in cutting them back to shoots that face outward. Trim it annually each spring for a perfectly shaped hedge.

Reclaiming an Old Evergreen

An overgrown evergreen shrub with too many unhealthy branches crossing over each other every which way, can be reclaimed and brought back to a healthy specimen. The gardener can be ruthless. Remove the dead branches. Remove any branches that rest on other branches. If it's not being trimmed as a hedge, the goal is to open the plant up more and give it some air and light. Old evergreens do have their place in a garden, but dead branches don't. It's an easy and creative fix.

Creating an Evergreen Topiary

If the goal is to prune an evergreen shrub into a topiary, a plant with dense growing habits is needed. Boxwood and yew work well for this purpose. But a variety of cedars and other evergreens can also be shaped into topiary forms. If trimming a topiary for the first time, the gardener might consider an easy shape like a mound or cone. Spirals and animal shapes could be attempted with confidence, but a practice shrub might be useful. A good eye is needed.

For a simple mound, take small cuts with a pair of hand trimmers, starting from the top of the shrub. Patiently work down and around the shrub until the basic shape appears. Step back occasionally to study its shape and fix any muddles in the shape. Like a bad hair cut, it does grow back. Pruning a topiary shape is a permanent investment of the gardener's time. She'll need to prune each year to keep it in shape and in check.

After Pruning Care

After the shrub has been pruned, add fresh mulch and plant food designed specifically for evergreens. This will lesson the shock of the pruning and give it a good start for the growing season.

The copyright of the article Pruning Evergreen Hedges and Topiary Shapes in Garden Pruning & Irrigating is owned by Lorraine Syratt. Permission to republish Pruning Evergreen Hedges and Topiary Shapes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.