Hand Pruning vs Hedge Pruning

Q. I heard that hand trimming bushes was better than using hedge trimmer.

Hand pruning, or pruning with a loppers or hand pruner deep inside the shrub using three or four cuts.

A. Yes, it is. It is not only “better” but it is faster, needed much less often and with less cleanup involved afterwards. Pruning with a lopper is done once every two years or even less often. Hedge shears used when the plant is grown as a hedge. Pruning with a hedge shears is done twice or sometimes three times a year or more. Pruning with a hedge shears eventually weakens the plant and makes the shrub look ugly in five years. Once done and finally noticed, it is impossible to correct quicky if at all. Most likely the shrubs will need to be replaced rather than pruned.

Pruning with a hedge shears requires three or four pruning trips each year and causes plants to become "leggy" after a few years.

Timing is also important. Pruning with a hedge shears is done ytime of the year by “professionals”. When hand pruning, remove stems after the shrub finishes flowering or in the winter if it flowers in the early spring. Correct hand pruning with a lopper removes two or three large stems from deep inside the plant once every two years. That’s easy to clean up. Hedge shears focuses on removing the new growth at the ends of stems. That cleanup requires a blower.