Hi, I'm Isaac, owner of Ready 2 Mow. Shrubs grow like crazy during our hot, rainy summer here in Seminole, and by October a lot of hedges look shaggy, lopsided or way taller than anybody wanted. The good news is that fall is a great time to get them back in shape. Here's how I think about trimming shrubs this time of year.
Why fall is a good time to tidy up shrubs
Most of our common landscape shrubs, like viburnum, podocarpus, coco plum, ixora, hibiscus and Indian hawthorn, put on a lot of new growth over the summer. As the weather starts to cool off, that growth slows down. That means a trim you do now tends to stay looking neat longer than one you did in July, when everything grew back in a couple of weeks.
Fall is also when a lot of people start having family over and decorating for the holidays. A clean, even hedge line makes the whole front of the house look sharper.
Shaping vs. hard cutting
There's a big difference between a light shaping and a hard cut.
- Light shaping means taking off the newest growth to even out the shape, clear walkways and keep shrubs off the house. This is what most yards need in the fall.
- Hard cutting means cutting deep into the older, woody part of the plant to shrink it way down. That's a bigger job, and it can leave a shrub looking bare for a while.
In the fall I usually stick to light shaping. Big cutbacks put a lot of stress on a plant, and new tender growth can get damaged if we get a cold snap later in the season. If a shrub really needs to be shrunk a lot, it's usually better to plan that out instead of doing it all at once.
Tips for a better-looking hedge
Here are a few things that make a real difference:
- Keep the bottom a little wider than the top. If a hedge is wider at the top, the bottom gets shaded out and turns thin and bare. A slight slant lets sunlight reach the whole plant.
- Don't cut flowering shrubs too hard. Shrubs like ixora and hibiscus bloom on their new growth. A heavy trim can mean fewer flowers for a while, so I just even them out.
- Keep shrubs off the house and windows. Branches rubbing on walls, screens and window sills can cause scuffs and give bugs an easy path inside. Leaving a little gap also lets air move.
- Clear walkways and driveways. Nobody likes getting brushed by wet leaves on the way to the front door. Trimming back the sides keeps paths open and safe.
- Look out for wasp nests and wildlife. Before trimming, I always take a quick look inside the shrub. It's a lot better to spot a nest before you stick your arm in there.
- Use sharp tools. Clean cuts heal better than ragged, torn ones and make the shrub look neater.
Don't forget the cleanup
Trimming makes a mess. Clippings get stuck in the shrubs, fall into mulch beds and blow onto the driveway. If you leave them, they can mat down, look messy and hold moisture against the base of the plants.
After I trim, I rake the clippings out of the beds, blow off the sidewalks and driveway, and haul the debris away so you don't have a pile of branches sitting by the curb. That last part is a big deal for a lot of my customers, because getting rid of yard waste is the part nobody wants to deal with.
Beach-area shrubs need a little extra attention
If you live closer to the water, like in Madeira Beach, Indian Shores, Indian Rocks Beach or the Redingtons, salt air and wind can make shrubs grow uneven, with one side fuller than the other. A regular light trim helps keep them balanced, and clearing out dead or salt-burned leaves keeps them looking healthier.
How often should you trim?
It depends on the plant and how neat you like things. Fast growers may need a touch-up every few weeks during the warm months, while slower shrubs only need it now and then. In the cooler part of the year most shrubs slow down, so you can usually go longer between trims. Adding shrub trimming to a regular mowing visit is an easy way to keep everything looking tidy without having to think about it.
Want help getting your shrubs back in shape?
If your hedges got away from you this summer, I'd be happy to help. Ready 2 Mow is owner-operated and insured, and I serve Seminole and nearby areas like Bay Pines, Largo, Kenneth City, west St. Pete and the beaches. I haul away all the clippings, and I accept all forms of payment.
Quotes are always free. Just call or text me at (727) 304-7803, or request a free quote online. Thanks for reading!