Quick Hedge Trimming Tips
These quick tips will help to turn your hedges into a much healthier and eye pleasing end result, thus, keep these in mind when hedge cutting.
If you are trimming a hedge that is roughly chest height in size, then the easiest and most efficient method is to begin with cutting the sides vertically in a sweeping arc motion. Using a double sided blade will achieve this even faster as you will be cutting up and down in one stroke motion. After the sides are completed , move to the top of the hedge. Ideally, you want to have your cutting blade positioned at a slight angle in a horizontal position. This will help to create a cleaner cut.
If your hedge is above chest height than you should be investing in a long reach hedge cutter. When trimming a taller hedge, you should have your cutter angled in a way in which you can place on top of the hedge and slide horizontally across. Moving onto the sides first adjust the angle of the cutting head to suit the working position. Keep it straight when close and angled when you are away from the hedge. As mentioned earlier, continue to create a sweeping arc motion when cutting.
Additional Tips Include:
- New hedges should be pruned from an early stage to establish a shape and prevent unhealthy growth.
- A formal hedge should be tapered – wider at the bottom than the top, ensuring the lower part will get the sunlight needed for healthy growth.
- Before trimming remove the excess branches.
- Stimulate the growth of your hedges by fertilising.
- Keep trimmer blades sharp and clean for maximum efficiency.
- Wear protective clothing to prevent injuries.
