How to trim bushes the right way

Bushes are a great way to liven up your space, whether you have a yard or a small front garden. But maintaining your bushes can take a lot of effort, and you can end up with unruly shrubs before you know it. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to trim bushes, so you can have lush and neat-looking greenery. We’ve also included tips in dealing with tricky situations, from lopsided bushes to lifeless shrubs. 

Tools you need for trimming bushes 

The right tools are essential so you don’t handle sharp thorns and twigs with your bare hands, or spend more time than you have to on a trimming task. Make sure to have these handy tools to tame your “home jungle.” 

• Basic pruning shears - For removing small branches 

• Bypass snips - Excellent for cutting herbs and flowers

• Bypass lopper - A lopper’s extended arms allow you to reach further inside a bush, shrub, or tree. Use this tool for jobs that are too large for shears but not big enough for a saw. 

• Electric hedge trimmer - For cutting the tips off of uneven bushes and shrubs. Best used sparingly as electric cuts are not the best for a plant’s long-term health

• Safety glasses - To protect your eyes from sharply cut branches

• Garden gloves - To prevent you from cutting or nicking yourself

• Protective footwear - To comfortably maintain your garden while protecting your feet from any heavy tools or debris
  
  

☞ Also read:

• Essential gardening tools for your home garden
• Pruning and trimming: What’s the difference?

How to trim your overgrown bushes

Overgrown bushes look unruly, and the leaves and branches stick out at odds and ends. These bushes also no longer have a uniform shape or height. 

Read on for the steps to trim your overgrown bushes.
 

Step 1: Assess if it’s the right time to trim your bushes 

Check your bushes for flowers or herbs. Make sure to inspect the leaves, branches, and corners inside and outside the bush. Doing this will help you decide if it’s the right time to give your bushes a makeover. 

• If you notice a few flowers mid-bloom, it’s best to trim your bushes in the wintertime when the flowers are dormant. This way, you don’t stunt their growth. 

• If you have evergreen bushes (foliage that remains green for more than one season), you can trim them at any time.
  
  

Step 2: Lay a tarp under the bushes 

Before trimming, lay a large tarp under the bushes or shrubs for easier cleanup. The tarp will help catch any branches and leaves that fall off. If you’re planning to trim several bushes and shrubs, collect the debris into a bucket or container and move on to the next area. You can hire a garden clearance service to collect your garden waste when you’re done.
 

Step 3: Place a stake on each side of your shrubs 

Place a stake on each side of the bush. Then, tie a string between the stakes to make sure it’s taut. You’ll use this as the reference height when trimming your bushes. If your bushes are near your home’s patio or a wall, you can also use that as a guide.
 

Step 4: Trim the top of the bushes 

Start cutting your bushes and shrubs with an electric trimmer. You should avoid cutting lower than your reference height to keep the top looking even. An electric trimmer will ensure you get a smooth finish. But you can also use pruning shears.
 

Step 5: Work your way up the bushes 

Cut the bottom of your overgrown bushes in smooth, even strokes. Remove 1 to 3 inches (2 to 8 centimeters) at a time to avoid cutting your bushes too much. 

Work your way upwards, making sure the shrub’s base is the widest, and the top is the narrowest. This technique will promote good foliage cover and density as the bush will attempt to grow top-heavy to cover the base.

Extra tip: Follow the narrow at the top, wide at the bottom rule; Cut the front and sides at an inclined angle for the best growth and health. Trimming your bushes this way will allow sunlight to reach the bottom leaves and maintain their healthy, green color.
 

Step 6: Assess the shape of the shrub 

Take a step back and look at your bush’s shape after cutting and snipping the foliage. Is the form too straight? Is it leaning too much towards the left or right? 

Checking your shrub’s shape will let you know if you’re cutting too much or too little. From here, you can make the necessary adjustments when trimming your bushes.

Step 7: Check for uneven sides

Narrow top? Check. Wide bottom? Check. No flowers cut mid-bloom? Check. 

Now, go over all the sides of your bushes to ensure the shape is even and no extra leaves are sticking out. If the bush’s body looks uneven, you can fix this with a few snips of your shears. Or, if you have to reshape the bush, your electric trimmer can do the trick.

A gardener can help with complicated bush trimming tasks 

You can hire a professional gardener if you don’t have the right equipment or are looking to get a bigger project done. A bush trimming specialist will know the best methods for different shrub varieties. What’s more, a specialist can properly and quickly trim your bushes, ensuring healthy and thick foliage. Take your garden from “blah” to “wow” by booking a bush trimming service today!