Hedge trimming: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What hedge trimming is

Hedge trimming shapes hedges with hand shears or powered trimmers into a tidy, even form, and clears the clippings. People hire it to keep privacy hedges dense, to keep hedges from blocking walks and windows, or to restore an overgrown row to a clean line.

Signs you need it

  • Hedge growth is reaching over walks, the driveway or the street and blocking the way
  • The top is wider than the base, so the lower branches are bare and thin
  • Branches are sprawling into the lawn, fence or neighbor's yard
  • Hedges look ragged, with long shoots sticking out from the clean line you want
  • The hedge has dead branches or thin spots that need to be opened up

What the pro does

  • The crew checks the hedge species and the right trim timing, since some hedges are cut once a year and others several times
  • A line is set with string or a level so the top and sides come out even
  • The top is trimmed first, then the sides, with the base kept wider than the top so light reaches the lower growth
  • Dead, damaged or crossing branches are removed with hand pruners or loppers
  • Clippings are raked, bagged or hauled away, and the walk and lawn edge are swept

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length and height of the hedge
  • Hedge species and how fast it grows, since some need trimming more often
  • Whether the job is a light shaping or a heavy cut back into older wood
  • Access, such as a tall hedge that needs a ladder or lift
  • Amount of clipping cleanup and hauling
  • Number of hedges or sides that need the work
  • Whether the trim is one-time or part of a recurring schedule

What a written quote should spell out

  • The hedges covered and the approximate height and length of each
  • The target shape and the height the hedge will be kept at
  • Whether heavy cutting back into old wood is included or quoted separately
  • How clippings are removed, and whether hauling is included
  • The timing of the trim and whether it is set for the season the species needs
  • Who handles any ladder or lift work and what safety measures are used

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What is the hedge species, and how often does it need trimming?
  • Will you cut into old wood, and will the hedge grow back full from there?
  • Do you use hand shears, powered trimmers or both, and why?
  • How do you keep the top and sides even?
  • Do you haul the clippings away or leave them for me to bag?
  • Are you working from a ladder or a lift, and what safety gear is used?
  • Can you tell if any of the hedge is dead or diseased, and what you would do about it?

Red flags

  • They cut the top wider than the base, which shades the lower branches until they thin out and die
  • They shear hard in the heat of summer on a species that needs a different season
  • They cut the hedge back hard without warning, and it may not regrow
  • They use a powered trimmer near power lines or a fence without checking what is overhead
  • They leave clippings all over the walk or the street

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can trim low, light hedges with hand shears or a corded or battery trimmer, working from the ground and keeping the cuts even. Call a pro for tall hedges that need a ladder, for hedges close to power lines, or for heavy cutting back into old wood. Keep the trimmer blade clear of cords, fingers and fences, and wear eye and ear protection.

Licenses and permits

Hedge trimming is commonly not licensed; work near power lines or heavy cutting that involves tree-like branches may need licensed tree work in some areas. Check with your state or local licensing agency if the crew works at height or near utilities.

Hedge trimming questions

When is the right time to trim a hedge?

It depends on the species. Some flowering hedges should be trimmed right after they bloom, while others can be trimmed in the dormant season or several times through the growing season. Ask the crew which schedule fits your hedge.

Why should the base be wider than the top?

A wider base lets sunlight reach the lower branches, so they stay full. A narrow base lets the lower branches thin and die out. Ask the crew to show you the shape they are cutting to.

Can a hedge be cut back hard?

Some hedges regrow from old wood and some do not. Ask the crew whether your species will resprout after a hard cut, and what the plan is if it does not come back.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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