HEDGE AND BUSH TRIMMING
IN NORFOLK COUNTY & WATERLOO REGION

Hedges and bushes can be a blessing to help mark property lines, reduce wind erosion, and give a property a clean, managed look. Whether they are rougher varieties like Cedar, Rose or Junipers or flowery pops of colour like Lilacs, Forsythia or Butterfly bushes, they add charm and personality to a property. However, as is, the general goal, bushes and hedges are always continuously growing and can sometimes grow even faster than our busy schedules allow us to manage! Jody’s Lawn Care is here to help! 

Whether it is a bi-annual pre-scheduled event, or a once in a blue moon after thought, our crews are happy to trim/cut back your shrubs, or even in some cases, remove them for you when plans change. Our experienced team know to what extent it is safe to trim back a hedge before it is perhaps too damaging, and will discuss your goals, timeline, and how you want the debris dealt with. This enables our teams to properly plan for the event, including what tools to bring, whether a trailer is necessary to cart away trimmings, what time of year is best for the plant, and how long they expect to need to properly complete the job.  

Although it may seem that trimmers and clippers are tools only to be concerned about in the warm months, we do dedicate part of the Winter to ensuring all our tools and machines are maintained and sharpened to guarantee their capabilities (sharp blades and edges make smooth and clean cuts on branches and stems) and availability come Spring. We have a wide range of tools, spanning from hand clippers to large loppers and electric hedge trimmers (including the pole variety for reaching higher levels of growth). Depending on the height of the hedge or bush to be maintained, we may pack ladders or step stools to aid in timely and safe adaptability to needs. We also bring tarps and all the protective equipment we need (like earplugs, gloves and safety glasses) to ensure that our team operate safely and efficiently. 

Time of year can have an impact on what tolerance a shrub may have for being cut back. For most plants it is best to trim back greenery before the Summer, although that may not always be the case. For example, Hydrangeas come in two varieties, ones that grow on old wood and ones that grow on new wood (learn some more hydrangea tips here https://www.gardenersoasis.com/types-of-hydrangeas/). Trimming back one that grow on old-wood in the Fall can be disastrous for its Spring growth as you may accidentally remove the young buds that reside on the existing stems, while trimming back ones that grow based on new-wood can save time and ensure they have lots of room for new blooms and early Spring growth (they can be even be trimmed as soon as late in the Summer after they have bloomed). Evergreens are best trimmed early in Spring, just after the last frost and before ethe temperatures and daylength encourage new growth.  

Although Winter can be a good to trim back growth, once it has gone dormant and the temperatures stay above freezing, it is a difficult period on Canada due to the unpredictability of weather to do so safely and quickly. Instead, if we want to remove tangled and crossing branches and prevent overgrowth, trimming late in the Fall or early in the Spring (before seasonal growth starts and while the plants are still dormant) can reach the same goals under better conditions. With our familiarity of Norfolk County (Port Dover, Simcoe, Delhi and Waterford) and Cambridge, we can be trusted to know when these key markers will occur and how long we have left in a season to address your trimming needs. 

We are also respectful of a homeowner’s wishes to encourage considerations for the natural habitat of wildlife, which can also affect when and how to trim back hedges and bushes. Waiting until after hatching season for birds such as Robins, Finches and Sparrows, usually means waiting until late Spring to safely change this environment; some birds are not cleared until late Summer. Once nests are abandoned, it makes it safer for our crews as well -- it is never fun being dive-bombed or squawked at by a bird!  

Employing our crews to manage the trimming for you also ensures we can check the health of your plants, trimming away any diseased or pest-ridden sections. This will encourage new, healthy growth. We may also notice other areas of concern while on the property that we bring to your attention. We also take away all the trimmings, which assures us that if there are any unwanted pests or illness, it is removed from the site and less likely to affect neighbouring plants. 

Letting Jody’s Lawn Care worry about your hedge and shrub trimming saves you time and headache; we make sure we have all the tools, the time, and clean up the mess! We listen to the specifications you have, taking into account the growing requirements and conditions of the species of plants, and use them to build a plan. This ensures that everyone on the team has the same understanding, and we all work together to do what is best for you and your property. We are pleased to help you keep up with your growing plant needs, from planting to trimming and everything in-between.