How to Trim a Hedge Regularly: The Moves and the Right Times

A well-trimmed hedge forms a dense green screen that hides, protects from the wind and structures the garden. Trimmed regularly, it stays vigorous and invades neither the passage nor the neighbour's land. This guide gives you the rhythm, the move and the simple rules for a neat hedge from spring to autumn.

Choosing the right trimming period

A hedge is trimmed two to three times a year: a first pass in May-June after the spring growth, a second in August, and a third in October for vigorous species like thuja or cherry laurel. Avoid the frost periods and strong heat, which weaken the cuts, and spare the spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, lilac) before they flower. A regular but light cut is always preferable to a severe, late trim.

Preparing the hedge trimmer and the work area

Before trimming, clear the base of the hedge and check that no birds are nesting in the branches. For a petrol model, check the fuel level and the spark plug wire; for an electric or battery model, charge the battery and check that the cable is not damaged. A line stretched between two stakes will serve as a reference to keep the top of the hedge straight.

1. Clear the base of the hedge and spot any birds' nests
2. Charge the battery or check the fuel and the power cable
3. Grease the blade and check its sharpening
4. Stretch a line between two stakes for the horizontal line
5. Put on gardening gloves and safety glasses

Trimming into a trapezoid and maintaining the tool

The ideal shape for a hedge is a trapezoid: a base wider than the top, with a slight setback of 5 to 10 cm for 1 m of height. This shape lets the light reach the whole surface and stops the bottom from thinning out. Work with broad, regular movements, the blade parallel to the surface, moving from the bottom up. Then gather up the cut branches with a rake to compost them if they are fine, and clean the blade with a cloth, greasing it after each trim: a sharp blade cuts clean, while a blunt blade crushes the branches and encourages disease.

Precautions and mistakes to avoid

• Trimming in frost periods: the branches snap and the wound freezes
• Shaving the bottom of the hedge: the base thins out and the hedge ends up "on legs"
• Using a blunt blade: it crushes the branches and encourages disease
• Trimming all the shrubs without taking account of their flowering period

Trimmed regularly into a trapezoid shape, a hedge stays dense, well green and easy to contain, without chaotic growth or tedious work. Two or three passes a year, a well-maintained tool and a line marked out with string are enough for a neat, professional result. You thus keep a healthy green screen that protects your privacy and enhances your garden.