Enhance Your Outdoor Space With Well-Maintained Bushes.
Adding bushes into your landscaping is a great way to create natural spaces and add privacy to your outdoor space. However it is essential to maintain your bushes to keep them healthy and aesthetic. The most important step to this care involves routine trimming.
Why is Bush Trimming Important?
Trimming your bushes helps to control both the shape and the size of the bush while also giving it a neat and tidy appearance. Bush Trimming stops overgrowth while also encouraging new and healthy growth. Although this may seem like a daunting task, trimming bushes can be relatively easy.
How to Trim Bushes for a Tidy Yard
Before you start, it is important to understand the ideal time of year and how often to trim. For bushes that don’t flower it’s best to trim every 6-10 weeks during the fast growing season. However once growth starts to slow down you can cut back on the frequency of trimming. It is best to trim flowering bushes/hedges after the blooms fade.
Guide to Trimming Bushes
- Prepare Your Tools and Attire
At first gather your trimmer/loppers, safety gear, including glasses, protective attire, and gloves. Take an overview of the bushes, looking closely for dead or damaged parts that need to be removed. Now is a good time to look for any diseases that may have developed on your bushes.
- Decide Your Ideal Shape
Review the shape you desire before making any cuts. It may be beneficial to use a string or rope to outline the desired shape of your bush. It’s always easier to shape a bush with tiny cuts and regular maintenance than trying to cut it all at once. Trimming large parts of the bush will not only show undesirable sticks, but can also cause the bush to die.
- Trim the Major Parts First
Trim all overgrown or dead branches using a pair of sharp loppers or a pruning saw. Once the main pieces are trimmed off, the bush is prepared for detail trimming. Pro tip you can place an old bed sheet or tarp at the base of each bush to prevent clippings from falling into your landscape bed. This makes for a much easier cleanup at the end.
- Trim and Shape
Begin by carefully trimming the top and working your way down, making sure to step back and check your work throughout. Once you reach the sides of the bush, trim from the bottom up, making sure to leave a wider base. This allows for balanced sunlight exposure. We recommend taking this step very slowly to avoid trimming too much.
- Final Touches and Cleanup
Take a pair of loppers to snip any uneven parts and achieve that uniform look. Rake up or leaf blow the bush trimmings out of the landscape bed. If you placed down a tarp or bed sheet beforehand you can skip this step. Lastly dispose of or compost the leftover bush clippings.
Maintaining Tall or Hard to Reach Bushes
Use ladders with a solid base and long tools to tackle these bushes. A pole saw/trimmer is ideal for these situations. Although overgrown bushes can be a headache it’s essential to refrain from trimming too much. Trim these bushes over the course of multiple seasons, reducing less than one-third of the total height.
Full Year Bush Maintenance Strategy
Keep a regular bush trimming schedule depending on your specific bush type. You should water and mulch around the base to retain moisture. Lastly, fertilize lightly and check in frequently for pests or diseases.
Professional Bush Trimming Services Near You
Bushes add character and privacy to your outdoor space, but maintaining them can be time-consuming and intimidating. If you need professional care, Max’s Lawn and Landscaping, Orland Park, offers bush trimming and other landscaping services.
To keep your landscape looking beautiful, request a free quote today at maxslawnandlandscaping.com or 708-745-8790
Disclaimer: this article provides general advice and does not apply to every situation. Contact Max’s Lawn and Landscaping for recommendations specific to your property.
