How to have healthier hedges—and happier neighbors.

Help your hedges thrive by trimming or pruning at the right time. A hedge is a dense planting of shrubs or small trees that form a natural fence around an area, offering a beautiful way to add privacy ...

Hedges are a row of plants that merge into a solid linear mass. They have served gardeners for hundreds of years as screens, fences, walls and edging. A well-shaped hedge is no accident. It must be ...

Summer’s end means it’s time to stop shearing evergreen hedges, according to Ben Fortin, the horticulturist who oversees the Hedge Collection at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Timing your pruning late ...

Pruning is an essential task that every gardener will perform regularly, but when it comes to proper pruning, there are ...

I use my pruning shears more than any other garden tool, and although it may seem strange to admit, I have a fondness for them. My pruning shears get used almost every time I step into my garden, and ...

Hedges are wonderful landscape assets, providing privacy as well as a green backdrop. Some hedges are small — just a few feet high and a few feet long, while others can soar up to 10 or more feet and ...

One task that home gardeners can spend a lot of time on is pruning their shrubs. There are four reasons that you might engage in this task: to affect flower or fruit production; to direct the growth ...

Question: I don’t have a lot of time for gardening, so I use the most efficient methods possible, including power clippers. My neighbor says that trimming with hand pruners is better for the shrubs ...

Avoid trimming hedges in late summer or early fall, as this can harm new growth before winter. Freshly cut hedges are more vulnerable to cold temperatures, which can lead to dieback and other issues.