Keeping your hedges tidy is an essential part of maintaining a pleasing outdoor space. However, the process often results in your yard being littered with clippings that seem to end up scattered everywhere! So how do you trim hedges efficiently while limiting the amount of mess created?
The best way to keep mess to a minimum when trimming hedges around your yard is to lay a tarpaulin or sheet on the area where clippings will fall. It also helps if you plan to do this on a still, dry day so that the debris does not get blown about.
For more tips on the best tools and techniques that make hedge clipping easy to tidy up, keep reading. I’ll cover using tools like rakes, leaf blowers and garden vacuums, etc. as part of your clean-up routine so that you can figure out what will work well in your garden.
Choose the Right Time To Clip Your Hedge
Selecting the optimal time to trim your hedges can significantly reduce the mess. Avoid trimming during windy conditions, as it can cause clippings to scatter uncontrollably.
Opt for a calm day when the wind is minimal, or if you live in an area where a breeze often picks up later in the day, plan your hedge trimming for early mornings when the air is still.
Additionally, try to schedule your trimming session when the hedge is dry as clearing up wet clippings is not fun, although they do tend to stick together more.
Seasonal Considerations
For most hedges, the best time of year for the first trim of the season is when it’s dormant, usually late winter, especially if it’s overgrown.
Light trims to help the hedge keep its height and shape should be done during the summer months.
Essential Tools To Minimize Mess
Equipping yourself with the right tools can make a world of difference in minimizing the mess while trimming hedges. Here is my list of must-have tools for a clean and efficient hedge-trimming experience:
1) Motorized Hedge Trimmer
Invest in a quality hedge trimmer with sharp blades and a good reach to ensure cleaner cuts. Consider electric or battery-powered trimmers, as they tend to produce fewer clippings compared to gas-powered ones.
2) Tarp or Sheet
Lay a tarp or sheet around the base of the hedge to catch the falling clippings. This one simple step will significantly reduce the time and effort required for clean-up.
To save moving them multiple times if you have a long run to do, use several sheets or tarps that cover the entire area.
3) Pruning Shears
For detailed or hard-to-reach areas, pruning shears are invaluable. They allow you to trim individual branches with precision, saving on the amount of clippings produced.
4) Stiff Broom
A good quality stiff broom makes it much easier to sweep up any clippings that escape from the tarp onto paths and driveways.
5) Garden Rake
For clippings that have fallen on grass and flower beds use a rake to gather them up.
Employ Proper Cutting Techniques For Fewer Clippings
Using the right cutting techniques can really help to avoid unnecessary mess while trimming hedges. Here are some top tips to get you started:
Begin At The Bottom: Begin trimming from the bottom of the hedge, working your way up. This ensures that clippings fall onto the already trimmed portion, reducing the spread of debris.
Cut At An Angle: Trim your hedges at a slight angle with the bottom wider than the top. Not only does this keep clippings from dropping too far out, but it also means that sunlight can get to the lower branches.
Make Clean, Sweeping Cuts: Maintain sharp blades and make clean, decisive cuts in a sweeping motion. Ragged or torn edges tend to produce more clippings, leading to a messier outcome.
Hedge Trimming Clean-Up Strategies
After completing the clipping task, it’s time to tackle the resulting heap of leaves and branches. Here are some clean-up strategies:
- a) Gather Up The Tarp: If you’ve followed my tips from earlier, most of your waste clippings should be lying nicely on the tarp or sheet you put down. Gather these up and empty them into your compost bin or dispose of them responsibly in some other way.
- b) Rake and Sweep: Use a rake or stiff broom to collect any loose clippings on the ground. A leaf blower can also be effective in clearing away clippings from hard-to-reach areas or uneven surfaces.
- c) Garden Vacuum: For smaller hedges or hard surfaces like patios or driveways, consider using a leaf vacuum to suck up the clippings. These machines are designed to pick up small plant debris efficiently so they can save you a lot of time and effort.
- d) Dispose of Clippings Properly: If you choose not to compost the clippings, dispose of them responsibly. Bag them and place them in your garden waste bin for collection or check with your local municipality for guidelines on yard waste disposal.
How To Make The Job Easier
For future trimming sessions, here are a few tips to make the job easier and create less mess that needs clearing up:
Regular Pruning
Trim your hedges regularly and often to keep them neat and prevent excessive growth. The more frequent pruning will ensure that each trimming session is less time-consuming and with reduced amounts of resulting clippings.
Keep The Surrounding Area Clear
Remove any unnecessary objects or obstacles from around the hedge before starting the trimming process. This will make clearing up a lot easier without clippings getting entangled or scattering further afield.
Clean And Sharp Hedge Trimmer Blades
Keep your trimmer blades clean and sharp so that they cut the hedge cleanly with less chance of clippings being torn or shredded.
Final Thoughts
By now, hopefully, you’ve realized that trimming hedges doesn’t have to result in large amounts of cut leaves and clippings flying everywhere. Just choose the right time, gather the essential tools, employ proper cutting techniques, and implement an effective clean-up strategy.
That way with a little pre-planning, you can enjoy a beautifully trimmed hedge with minimal mess.