Shrub & Hedge Trimming

Keep Your Shrubs and Hedges Looking Their Best

Well-maintained shrubs and hedges make a huge difference in your property's curb appeal. They provide structure to your landscaping, create privacy, and add color and texture to your yard. But shrubs and hedges need regular trimming to stay healthy and look their best. Without proper maintenance, they can quickly become overgrown, leggy, and unsightly.

Here in Tuscaloosa, AL, our growing season is long and many shrubs grow vigorously. This means they need more frequent attention than shrubs in cooler climates. Regular trimming keeps them in bounds, encourages dense growth, and maintains the shape and size you want. It also prevents problems like branches rubbing against your house or blocking walkways and windows.

Professional trimming is about more than just making straight lines. Different shrubs have different growth habits and need to be pruned at different times and in different ways to look their best and stay healthy. We understand these differences and trim each plant appropriately based on its species, size, location, and your aesthetic preferences.

Our Shrub and Hedge Trimming Services

We provide comprehensive shrub and hedge care services for residential and commercial properties throughout the Tuscaloosa area. Here is what our service includes:

• Hedge shaping and formal trimming for clean, uniform appearance
• Natural form pruning for informal shrub beds
• Rejuvenation pruning for overgrown or neglected shrubs
• Flowering shrub pruning timed to preserve next season's blooms
• Height reduction and containment for shrubs that have outgrown their space
• Complete debris cleanup and removal

We use sharp, professional tools that make clean cuts. This is important because ragged cuts from dull equipment can damage plant tissue and invite disease. Our crew is trained in proper pruning techniques that promote healthy growth and maintain the natural beauty of your shrubs.

Whether you have formal boxwood hedges, foundation plantings, privacy screens, or informal shrub borders, we can maintain them at whatever level of formality you prefer. Some clients want precise, geometric shapes, while others prefer a more natural look. We work with you to achieve the appearance you want for your property.

When to Trim Shrubs and Hedges

Timing matters when it comes to shrub pruning. Most evergreen hedges and non-flowering shrubs can be trimmed any time during the growing season. For formal hedges that need frequent shaping, we typically trim 2 to 3 times per year to maintain crisp edges and dense growth.

Flowering shrubs have more specific timing requirements. Spring-blooming shrubs like azaleas, forsythia, and lilacs should be pruned right after they finish flowering. If you prune them in late summer or fall, you will cut off next spring's flower buds. Summer-blooming shrubs can be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth starts.

Some shrubs benefit from rejuvenation pruning, which involves cutting them back hard to encourage new growth from the base. This is best done in late winter when the plants are dormant. Rejuvenation pruning can transform overgrown, leggy shrubs into full, attractive plants again, though it may take a season or two to see the full results.

We can set up a maintenance schedule that keeps your shrubs looking great all year. Many of our clients combine shrub trimming with tree pruning services for comprehensive landscape maintenance. This ensures all your plants get the attention they need at the right times.

Dealing with Overgrown Shrubs

Overgrown shrubs are one of the most common landscaping problems we see. Maybe you bought a house where the shrubs were neglected, or perhaps your own plantings have simply outgrown their space. Whatever the reason, overgrown shrubs block light, crowd out other plants, and make your property look unkempt.

We can often salvage overgrown shrubs with aggressive pruning. Many shrubs respond well to being cut back hard and will produce vigorous new growth. This approach works especially well with shrubs like hollies, yews, privet, and spirea. We remove the old, woody growth and the plant responds by sending up fresh new shoots.

Some situations call for complete removal and replacement. If shrubs are diseased, severely damaged, or simply the wrong plant for the location, removal might be the best option. We can recommend appropriate replacements that will fit the space better and require less maintenance going forward. Sometimes investing in the right plants saves you time and money in the long run.

For property-wide cleanup projects, you might also need our land clearing services to remove large overgrown areas and start fresh with new landscaping. We can handle projects of any size, from a single overgrown shrub to complete landscape renovation.

Why Choose Professional Shrub Trimming

You might be wondering whether you need professional help for shrub trimming or if it is something you can do yourself. Basic trimming of small shrubs is certainly a task many homeowners can handle. But professional service makes sense for several reasons.

First, we have the right tools for the job. Professional hedge trimmers, pole pruners, and hand shears make the work faster and produce better results than basic home equipment. We also have the knowledge to prune different species correctly. Improper pruning can damage plants or ruin their natural shape.

Safety is another consideration. Trimming tall hedges or shrubs near power lines requires proper equipment and training. Ladders and power tools can be dangerous if you are not experienced using them. Our crew has the training and safety equipment to work at heights and around obstacles safely.

Finally, there is the time factor. What might take you an entire weekend we can often complete in a few hours. Many busy homeowners find that professional service is worth the cost just for the time savings and convenience. Plus, you get the peace of mind knowing the work is done correctly and your shrubs will look great and stay healthy.

Common Shrub Trimming Questions