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How to care for your hedge

Outdoor plants and garden

Autumn

A hedge needs regular care to stay healthy and even. But when is the best time to trim it? Read more here to learn everything you need to know about trimming and maintaining your hedge.

To give your hedge the best care, it’s important to understand the specific needs of the plant and your local climate conditions.

Watering and nutrition:
Make sure your hedge gets enough water, especially during dry periods. You can use drip irrigation and automatic watering systems to avoid dragging out the garden hose every time. When establishing a new hedge, watering is particularly important.

Fertilizing:
Use a balanced fertilizer, such as cow manure, to provide the hedge with the right nutrients. Apply it early in the spring to give the hedge a good start, and possibly again in midsummer to support continued growth.

Pest and disease control:
Keep an eye out for signs of pests or disease. Common pests include aphids and spider mites, while typical diseases may include fungal infections like powdery mildew.

Pruning plan:
To avoid damaging your hedge, use proper pruning techniques. Don’t prune in extreme heat or cold. For deciduous hedges, try to follow the plant’s natural lines when trimming. When cutting conifer hedges, be careful not to remove too much of the outer layer, as this can create bare spots that are hard to fix.

Shape and structure:
To keep your hedge dense and tidy, it’s best to trim little and often. This encourages new growth and prevents the hedge from becoming sparse or overgrown. For long hedges, you can use string lines or a laser to ensure straight cuts.

When should you trim your hedge?

The answer depends on what type of plant your hedge is, and when during the year it blooms. Deciduous hedges can usually be pruned in early spring, and conifers in autumn—but there are exceptions.

Spring-flowering hedges such as spirea, flowering almond, and forsythia shouldn’t be trimmed in spring, as you’ll miss out on the blooms. It’s better to wait until around midsummer to prune them.
Plants that produce sap in spring, like field maple and hornbeam, are best pruned during the JAS period (July, August, and September).
Conifers such as thuja, spruce, and yew should be trimmed in late winter or autumn, when their growth period has ended.

If you prune your hedge early in spring, you may need to trim it again during the JAS period—especially if it’s a fast-growing, neatly trimmed deciduous hedge.

A general rule to keep in mind: it’s better to trim a little and often, rather than heavily and rarely. This helps the hedge stay dense and well-shaped.

Check out everything within garden care

Telescopic Lopper SmartFit L86

Telescopic Lopper SmartFit L86

Fiskars

Length 86CM, Black

Hedge trimmer ComfortCut

Hedge trimmer ComfortCut

Gardena

Dark Grey

Xtract Garden Saw SW73 Small

Xtract Garden Saw SW73 Small

Fiskars

Length 35CM, Black

PowerGear X Bypass Lopper L74

PowerGear X Bypass Lopper L74

Fiskars

Length 61CM, Black

PowerGear X Bypass Lopper LX98

PowerGear X Bypass Lopper LX98

Fiskars

Length 85CM, Black

El. Hedge Trimmer EasyCut

El. Hedge Trimmer EasyCut

Gardena

Dark Grey

Solid Snip Pruning Floral SP14

Solid Snip Pruning Floral SP14

Fiskars

Length 24CM, Black

Hedge Shear SP70 telescopic

Hedge Shear SP70 telescopic

STELL

Length 70CM, Black

Lopper SP50 telescopic

Lopper SP50 telescopic

STELL

Length 93CM, Grey

Hedge Shears HS52

Hedge Shears HS52

Fiskars

Length 59CM, Black

Hedge Shear HS86 Smart Fit

Hedge Shear HS86 Smart Fit

Fiskars

Length 73,5CM, Black

Lopper EasyCut 680B

Lopper EasyCut 680B

Gardena

Silver

TeleCut Hedge Clipper

TeleCut Hedge Clipper

Gardena

Grey

Top scissors Starcut Pro L Combisystem

Top scissors Starcut Pro L Combisystem

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Turquoise

EasyCut Hedge Clipper

EasyCut Hedge Clipper

Gardena

Black

Telescopic Hedge Trimmer THS 5

Telescopic Hedge Trimmer THS 5

Gardena

Turquoise

Tools for trimming your hedge

Which tool you need depends on the type of hedge you have. You can trim with anything from a handheld hedge shear or small pruner to electric trimmers and loppers.

A handheld hedge shear works great for low hedges when you want clean, straight cuts.
A pruner (secateur) is ideal for removing individual leaves or small branches here and there.
Electric tools are useful if you're trimming long stretches of hedge. Remove thicker branches with a lopper before using an electric hedge trimmer.

Tip: Always shape your hedge so that it’s wider at the base—this ensures sunlight reaches all parts of the hedge and helps prevent thinning at the bottom.

Protection from winter and frost

Prepare your hedge for winter by adding a protective layer of compost or mulch around the base. This helps insulate the roots. If your hedge is sensitive to frost, consider covering it with netting or a frost protection cloth.

General tips

Make sure to wear the right protective gear when pruning, such as gloves and safety glasses.
Check your tools regularly to ensure they’re sharp and in good condition. This makes pruning more effective and reduces the risk of damaging the hedge.
If you’re unsure about when or how to prune a specific hedge, feel free to consult one of our gardeners for advice.

Some common hedge types

Below is a list of common hedge types along with pruning tips:

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus): A deciduous hedge that should be pruned during the JAS period (July, August, September). Let it grow to the desired height before trimming the top.
Lilac hedge (Syringa vulgaris): A deciduous hedge that tolerates heavy pruning. You can trim it throughout the season—just be mindful of the flowering period.
Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium): Also a deciduous hedge that handles hard pruning well. Cut it back early in spring or after midsummer. Avoid trimming too late in the season, as this can affect its winter appearance.
Thuja hedge (Thuja occidentalis): Trim the new growth either early in spring or during the JAS period.
Juniper hedge (Juniperus spp.): Prune early in spring, and trim the new shoots during the JAS period. Remember: hedges with a central leader should not be topped until they’ve reached the desired height. Multi-stemmed hedges, however, can be topped without stopping their upward growth.

Read more:

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Pruning – how to succeed

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Plant a hedge – how to succeed

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Get a beautiful hedge that protects against prying eyes, adds life and shape to your garden, or takes the breath away from all visitors with its lovely blooms. Here are tips on different hedge plants and how to plant them for the best results.

Spring garden calendar – What to do in your garden now

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Spring is the perfect time to bring your garden back to life, plant new things, and enjoy the first signs of spring as they break winter's hold on the garden.

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Whether you want less visibility or a green shield against the wind, evergreen hedges are something worth taking a closer look at. Evergreen hedges retain their foliage throughout the winter, providing protection even when the snow falls. Here we present five varieties that are worth considering.

Choosing a hedge – Different types of hedges and what they are suitable for

Choosing a hedge – Different types of hedges and what they are suitable for

Planning to plant a hedge around your property? Maybe you've just purchased a plot of land, or want to section off part of your garden? Read on to learn more about the different types of hedges you can choose from, and which ones are best suited for various purposes.

Everything about garden tools

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Keep your garden well-groomed and your flower beds blooming. With the right tools, it's easier to get your garden just the way you want it.

Fast-growing hedges – four good alternatives

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A fast-growing hedge is the right choice when you want to plant hedges for privacy or decoration without having to wait many years for a finished result. Here are some of the best options for hedges that grow quickly.

Flowering hedges

Flowering hedges

If you are going to plant a new hedge, choose shrubs that flower. They are not only beautiful, but also useful as both food and protection for insects and small animals.

JAS - the best time for pruning

JAS - the best time for pruning

July, August, and September (JAS) are good months for pruning most bushes and trees in the garden. This is when the plant is in full growth and we can see the plant's shape with its foliage. For the varieties known as 'bleeders', this is the only time of year suitable for pruning.

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Tips and tricks - Garden care

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Outdoor plants and garden

Autumn

How to care for your hedge | Plantasjen