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Pruning Thuja hedging can present a unique challenge to gardeners. As a coniferous evergreen hedging species, Thuja should not be trimmed at all if it is used as a standalone shrub, since it naturally has a nice conical shape. If, however, you have a Thuja hedge, you will have to trim it fairly regularly to maintain sharp vertical lines and prevent it from getting out of control.
There is a small difference between “trimming” and “pruning” – pruning denotes invasive work to properly cut the plant back and remove any dead or diseased wood, while trimming refers to making surface-level cuts to help the plant maintain its shape and gently prevent it from growing out of control.
Thuja hedges should be trimmed regularly throughout the year, but make sure you take note of what the weather is like – Thuja hedging is sensitive to temperature and thrives well in slightly moist conditions, so make sure not to trim it on frosty or sunny days, as this dry out the plant or damage it.
The beauty of Thuja plants is that they can be hard pruned and they will grow back – meaning you do not need to be afraid of giving them a good haircut to maintain the height and shape you desire.
When it comes to proper pruning, most Thuja hedges should be pruned twice a year (excluding Thuja Occeidentalis Smaragd “Emerald”, which has a much slower growth rate and only needs to be pruned once). The first pruning should take place in Spring (early May is perfect) and the second should be at the end of Summer (late August to early September).
The best technique is to prune from bottom to top, and it’s okay to use hedge trimmers for an even result if there isn’t a lot of delicate work to do. Be careful that you examine for birds’ nests before you start pruning – it’s illegal to disturb birds’ nests, so if there are any nests, ensure they are fully fledged before you start.
If the Thuja hedge is starting to turn brown, this is an important time to prune it. Browning normally indicates that the Thuja hedge isn’t getting enough water, so prune away the affected foliage and water the plant more frequently, maybe laying down a layer of mulch to help the soil retain water in the future.
Yes, one of the reasons that Thuja is such a popular alternative to Leylandii is that it responds well to hard pruning and will regrow nicely so long as you avoid cutting back at times when frosts may occur
Please ensure before pruning that your gardening tools are well-lubricated to keep them sharp. They should also always be sanitised before you use them – one of the main reasons to prune a hedge is to do the preventative work that will protect it from disease, so it would be a shame if your tools were contaminated and ruined all your hard work!
You should also make sure you’ve collected all the trimmings, as leaving them around the Thuja hedge could also cause the spread of fungal diseases later on.
Finally, some gardeners find that handling Thuja hedge trimmings can irritate their skin, so we recommend wearing long sleeves, gloves, and goggles if possible to protect you while pruning.
If you want to know more about the different types of Thuja hedges and their needs, take a look at our other Knowledge Base Pages for in-depth solutions to an array of gardening problems. Here at Hopes Grove Nurseries, we have three decades of experience caring for hedging plants and are eager to share our expertise.
Explore our range of hedging plants today and contact our team for more information!
