Formative Pruning New Hedges

Pruning Young Hedges While Growing to Mature Size

Formative pruning of a new hedge is handled differently from trimming a mature hedge.

Because you want your new hedge to reach the desired height, the general aim is to remove the tips of the stems all over the plant once a year, maybe twice for vigorous evergreens. 
Native country hedge plants also get hard pruned, which is essential to force sufficient branching close to ground level.

Deciduous Hedges:

• When: In Autumn or Winter when plants are dormant, sometimes after planting, and again the following winter.
• How:
  • Only native country hedge plants like Hawthorn are cut back hard by about 50% immediately after planting. The new growth from that point is cut by 50% one year later, then lightly trimmed once per year until the hedge is fully grown.
  • This hard pruning is not done to any formal hedge plants, even natives like Beech or Hornbeam. There is no need to trim them after planting, or else only very lightly to remove the leaf buds at the tips of the stems and to tidy straggling stems. Trim them lightly every winter until the hedge is fully grown.

Evergreen Broadleaf Hedges:

• When: In Spring, as soon as frosts have passed, when new growth is starting. Again in Autumn if necessary due to vigorous growth.
• How: Using secateurs, snip off the ends of every stem, and prune side shoots back into line, leaving an upward/outward facing bud. 

Evergreen Conifer Hedges:

• When: In late Spring or Summer until the end of August, when the plants are growing. Once a year is enough for most plants, except Leylandii, which will probably need two trims a year while reaching full size.
• How: Do not prune the leading shoot until the hedge is fully grown: this applies to all conifers and is especially important for Yew. Use shears to trim all side shoots to encourage dense growth down to the base.