Dirk Puslich wrote:

Hello,

A month ago I had a cedar hedge planted in my backyard.
They are about 6.5 to 7 feet in height right now but are kind of
scrawny.

Over the years I want them to first bush out more, then grow higher.

I was told by a friend that when you trim the tops, it makes the new
growth come out to the sides more and not get too woody, and nce they
are bushy enough then you can let them grow higher.

I have 3 questions, assuming this is right:

1) What time of year should the tops of the cedars be lopped off
(Fall? Spring? mid Summer?) Just once per year??

2) Given that they were just planted in mid September, should I wait a
while before I take the hedge trimmers to them, so as not to stress
them too much, or is it OK to trim them now?

3) Is there a rule of thumb as to how much to lop off the top? I was
thinking about a foot off of each one for now.

- I live in Canada (Toronto) where we get some cold winters if that
makes a difference.


Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

You can prune these shrubs at any time of year. Trimming a foot off at
this point wouldn't be a problem and there is no need to wait. Most
shrubs would not want to be trimmed now as this would stimulate new
growth which wouldn't have a chance to "harden off" before winter. The
cedars won't care though. Long term you will probably want to trim them
twice per year to keep them looking well maintained.

The most important thing to consider is to make sure that the root
system has lots of water in it at freeze-up. As a general rule cedars
like it wet all year round.

Peter H