Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Trim the height of your bush
• Part 2 of 3: Trim the sides of the shrubbery
• Part 3 of 3: Remove dead, diseased, or overgrown branches
• Tips
• What do you need

Shrubs can be a great addition to any yard or garden, but not properly cared for can lead to uncontrolled growth. Regular pruning of shrubs can help maintain a well-groomed appearance and prevent damage to the exterior cladding of your home. You don't have to be a professional to trim shrubs; amateur gardening skills are enough. The correct pruning technique will allow you to return the shrubs to their former beauty in the shortest possible time.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Trim the height of your bush

1. 1 Examine the bush for flowering to see when it needs to be pruned. Flowering shrubs should be pruned during the winter when the plant is dormant to prevent stunting of flowers. Non-flowering shrubs can be pruned at any time of the year, except in late autumn, so that new shoots have time to ripen in the next hibernation period.
   • If you are growing a hedge, prune the overgrown branches at least six weeks before the first frost.
   • Avoid over-pruning out of season. A little culturing won't hurt him, but serious pruning can.
2. 2 Place a tarp on the ground around the bush. This will make it easier to pick up branches or leaves that fall to the ground. If only a few bushes need to be trimmed, clean the tarp and move it under the next bush.
3. 3 Use the two pegs as a guide to line the shrub. Place a peg on both sides of the bush and stretch a thin rope between them. Keep the rope taut and use it as a height to trim the bush. For greater accuracy, level the string with a spirit level.
   • If the shrub is small enough to grow close to the house or cladding, use it as a guide for alignment when pruning.
4. 4 Trim the top off with pruning shears or garden scissors. Try not to go beyond the extended level in order to cut the bushes evenly. If there are branches that disturb the general view, cut them off.
   • Garden shears are ideal for trimming shrubs to height, as they allow you to achieve a smoother surface.
5. 5 Make the top narrower than the base. The base of the bush should be the widest part of the plant. Examine the bush after leveling the top. If the top of the bush seems too bulky, thin it out further using pruning shears or garden shears.

Part 2 of 3: Trim the sides of the shrubbery

1. 1 The sides of the bush should be at least 15-30 cm from the house. Thus, the plant will not rub against the walls of the house and cracks will not appear on the cladding. If the shrub still touches the walls of the house, measure 15-30 cm from it to cut along this line.
   • Since plants need water to live, planting them near a home can cause water damage to walls.
2. 2 Start pruning at the base of the bush and work your way to the top. Make smooth, even cuts to keep the sides of the shrub straight. When pruning, make the base of the shrub wider than the rest of the shrub to give the plant a harmonious look.
3. 3 Trim the sides at a slight angle. This will narrow the plant towards the top and leave it wide at the bottom. Thanks to this, sunlight will be able to hit the lower branches and preserve the green color of the leaves.
4. 4 The higher you go, the finer the cuts you make. Try not to cut too deep into the plant. Shoot 2.5-7.6 cm at a time, especially at the base, so you don't overdo it with cropping. If you are not satisfied with the final shape of the bush, nothing prevents you from continuing the pruning later.
   • Try to keep the natural shape of the bush to keep it healthy.
5. 5 Examine the plant for uneven areas. Estimate the shape of the bush and look for protruding branches. If the bush looks uneven or there are individual branches protruding from it, trim the plant with pruning shears.

Part 3 of 3: Remove dead, diseased, or overgrown branches

1. 1 Cut off the thickest overgrown branches first. Use pruning shears or pruning shears to prune the naughty branches at the base. This will prevent overgrowth of protruding branches and encourage new lateral growth.
2. 2 Cut off some branches near the center. If the center of the bush is braided by several overgrown branches, cut them off right at the base. At the same time, try to maintain the natural shape of the plant, and the base of the bush - its widest part.
   • Thinning the center will allow the light to reach the lower branches.
   • Prune only overgrown branches, as cutting too many main branches can harm the shrub.
3. 3 Remove diseased or damaged branches or entire segments. Examine the bush for diseased or broken branches that need to be removed to keep the plant healthy. Remove the rotten parts of the branch until you reach a healthy area. If only part of the branch is damaged (or sick), there is no need to remove it completely. Just remove as many dead or diseased areas as possible.
   • Learn about common pests or diseases that can affect your shrub and look for early signs of them.
4. 4 Do not remove more than 1/3 of the shrub. Pruning more than a third of the plant will weaken it and make it vulnerable to pests and diseases. If you feel like you've overdone your pruning, trim the plant as best you can and finish pruning the bush.

Tips

• While the pruning shears will make the job much faster, the pruning shears will allow you to perform more thorough and accurate pruning work.
• Use long scissors to get to the tops of large bushes.

What do you need

• Tarpaulin
• Garden shears and pruners
• Twine
• Two pegs
• Level