Top in Shape – Regularly Pruning Bushes

If you have bushes and hedges in your garden, you should keep them well-shaped with regular pruning. Not only does this look good, but it also contributes to the healthy growth of your bushes.

It all depends on what you like. Some prefer symmetrical forms, while others are fine with a wilder look. How your bushes are pruned depends entirely on your personal taste.

It's clear that regular pruning is essential for many plants. But if you want a beautiful and well-maintained garden, pruning bushes and hedges is unavoidable. Green or colorful hedges only grow dense and bushy if they're trimmed at least twice a year.

The first pruning should happen in spring, crucially before birds begin building their nests. The second trim is then done in June or July. However, flowering shrubs are an exception: they should only be pruned after they've finished blooming. Withered flowers can be removed to encourage a more abundant and longer-lasting bloom.

To make pruning your bushes a breeze, having the right tools is key. Not only does it affect the outcome, but it also makes the work easier and more pleasant.

It's crucial to protect yourself. Minor or even major injuries can quickly happen to your hands while pruning, so it's important to prevent them. The right gloves are essential for this. Leather gloves or those made from other materials that thorns can't penetrate are best.

Hedge shears are also necessary to achieve the perfect cut for your bushes. If you're attempting a topiary or shaped cut, you'll need shears that allow for precise cutting. These can be either electric or manual.

Exactly where and how much to prune depends on the type of bush.

Rhododendrons, hazel bushes, and spindle trees are examples of bushes whose branches grow directly upwards from the roots, only branching out at their upper ends. For these, you should cut out the older branches to give younger, flower-producing shoots a chance to thrive.

Dog roses, barberry, and forsythia are bushes with shoots that grow in gentle arcs and branch out everywhere. For these varieties, weaker shoots should be shortened by up to 50%.

Otherwise, when it comes to shaping: anything goes! Any form is allowed; it simply comes down to personal preference.