Gardener tricks for planting and pruning hedges

Before buying a hedge, read these simple tips on how to properly plant and maintain them.

• Most hedges do best in full sun since shade can stunt their growth.
• If you plant parts of a hedge in sun and parts in shade, the hedge will be different heights and have different densities.
• If you must plant in partial shade, choose a shrub that can flourish in such conditions. Boxwood, hydrangea, rhododendron and yews all do well with partial shade.
• To plant a hedge, stretch twine between two stakes. Plant the shrubs along one side of the string, spacing them 10 to 20 percent closer than the mature spread of the plant.

• Some hedge shrubs, like boxwood, can be trimmed to just a couple of feet wide, while more sprawling shrubs, such as hibiscus, will need 2.4 metres or more.
• Because pruning stimulates new growth, prune evergreen and most deciduous hedges in spring.
• If your hedge produces spring flowers, wait until after they bloom to do any cutting.
• Hedges don't have to be trimmed into neat, formal rectangles. Many hedges are loose and informal, incorporating a variety of plants.
• Pruning for any type of hedge starts with removing any dead wood and cutting back any broken or damaged branches.
• To shape a formal hedge, use hedge shears. Make the hedge narrower on top than on the bottom. That way, light can reach the bottom branches.
• If you have an informal hedge, use shears or loppers to thin it out, trimming old wood to the base of the plant.
• If you want to control the size of the hedge, selectively prune branches to retain their natural form.
• Don't cut off the ends of the branches. That will stimulate bushy growth that will shade the interior and create a dead centre.

If your hedge has suffered years of neglect, you may be able to revive it with radical pruning. Here's how:

• Begin by removing any unwanted saplings or other stray plants that have infested the hedgerow.
• Then, cut out any dead or damaged wood
• Finally, shape the remaining hedge.

• Some shrubs, such as yew, can be trimmed back severely without ill effect. But other plants, like juniper, will not grow back attractively. If this is the case, trim lightly or consider replacing the hedge.
• With deciduous hedges, try thinning and lightly shaping the branches.
• Most deciduous hedges can withstand severe trimming. If they're severely overgrown or misshapen, you can cut them back to just a few feet and they'll grow back within a year or two.

Keeping hedges comes down to knowing where and what to plant, and how to keep it well-pruned. With enough love and care, your hedges could very well be the centrepiece of your outdoor space.