Precision Hedge & Shrub Trimming in Calgary
Perfect lines, healthy growth, beautiful landscapes
Even the smaller green members of your yard deserve some love! Proper hedge and shrub trimming isn’t just about aesthetics - it’s essential for plant health, safety, and long-term structure. Our Shrub Trimming service keeps your bushes and ornamental plants neat, healthy, and thriving.
Why Trimming Matters?
Promotes Healthy Growth
Removing dead or crowded branches lets light and air reach the interior, reducing disease risk.Enhances Curb Appeal
Neatly shaped hedges and shrubs instantly upgrade the look and value of your property.Controls Size & Shape
Prevent overgrowth into walkways, driveways, or neighboring properties - keeping everything tidy.Encourages Flowering & Fruit
For flowering shrubs, strategic cuts boost blooms and berry production next season.
Shrub Trimming
Why Trim Shrubs?
Regular trimming prevents shrubs from getting overgrown and unruly. By cutting back excess growth, we encourage the plant to become fuller and denser – no more leggy, thin-looking bushes.
Trimming also stimulates more flowers on blooming shrubs: for example, pruning your lilac or spirea at the right time can lead to more blossoms the next season.
It also removes any dead or diseased wood hiding inside, keeping the shrub healthy. And of course, a well-shaped shrub simply looks nicer, whether it’s meant to provide privacy, accent your flowerbed, or frame your front door.
Pruning suckers to help shape the apple tree
Our shrub care know-how
We are familiar with the common shrubs in Calgary gardens and the surrounding boreal region. From flowering shrubs like lilac, ninebark, hydrangea, or rose, to evergreen shrubs like juniper or mugo pine, to deciduous bushes like dogwood or cotoneaster, each has its ideal pruning method and season:
For lilacs and other spring-bloomers, we trim them just after they finish flowering (early summer). This way we don’t accidentally cut off next year’s developing flower buds. We’ll deadhead old blossoms and thin out older stems to rejuvenate the plant.
For summer-blooming shrubs or those grown for foliage (like ninebark or barberry), late winter or early spring trimming works best. We can cut back and shape them before the growth starts, which promotes lots of fresh new branches.
Evergreen shrubs (like junipers) can be lightly trimmed almost any time, but we usually do it in late spring or early summer once we see how the winter affected them. We avoid cutting back to bare wood on evergreens, so they stay green and can regrow naturally.
Our Approach
When we trim shrubs, we use sharp hand pruners and loppers for precise cuts, or hedge shears for a soft uniform shape when appropriate. We can do fine detail work like shaping topiaries or simple tasks like cutting a bush away from a sidewalk. If a shrub is very overgrown or old, we might perform a rejuvenation pruning – removing some of the oldest, thickest stems right to the ground to encourage new shoots (done during dormancy). Don’t worry, we’ll discuss it with you if a plant would benefit from this more drastic “haircut.”
What to expect
Our team will identify which branches to trim and which to keep, aiming for a balanced, natural shape. We’ll make sure not to harm the parts of the plant that are doing well. All the trimmed bits – leaves, twigs, sticks – will be cleaned up from your mulch and lawn. We can bag the debris for city compost pickup or take it away.
By the time we’re done, your shrubs will be nicely shaped but not stubby – they’ll still have a natural look, just tidier. With regular trimming (usually once a year, or twice for fast-growers), your shrubs will stay healthier, produce better blooms or foliage, and keep the intended size and form in your landscape. Plus, you won’t have to worry about that bush blocking the window or overhanging the path anymore!
Hedge Care
A well-kept hedge is like a living fence that adds charm and privacy to your property. Our Hedge Care service ensures your hedges remain thick, healthy, and beautifully shaped. We handle all types of hedges – from a row of upright junipers to a classic cotoneaster or cedar hedge – using careful trimming techniques to achieve a uniform look.
Pruning suckers to help shape the apple tree
Why hedge trimming matters
Hedges can quickly grow shaggy and uneven without regular maintenance. Trimming encourages hedges to branch out and fill in, so you get a dense screen rather than sparse, patchy growth. By cutting back the new growth periodically, we also keep the hedge at your desired height and width.
This is especially important in Calgary, where a hedge might otherwise grow too tall and suffer breakage from heavy snow or wind. Regular hedge care not only keeps them looking neat (improving curb appeal), but also promotes plant health by removing dead sections and improving air circulation within the foliage.
Our Approach
We usually trim hedges about 1-2 times per growing season, depending on how fast they grow and your preference. The typical schedule for Calgary is a major trim in late spring/early summer (after the first flush of growth), and an optional light trim in late summer or early fall to tidy up before winter. We avoid very late fall trimming on certain hedges to prevent stimulating tender growth that could be nipped by frost.
When we arrive, we’ll talk with you about the height and shape you want. Some folks like a flat-topped, squared-off hedge, while others prefer a more natural, rounded shape. We’re skilled in both. Using sharp manual hedge shears or small electric trimmers, we carefully cut the hedge to shape. We make sure to angle the sides slightly inward (wider at the bottom, narrower at the top) – a pro trick that helps sunlight reach all parts of the hedge and prevents the bottom from thinning out.
For common hedges in Calgary like cotoneaster, we’ll trim the long shoots and suckers to maintain that crisp form. For evergreen hedges like cedar or juniper, we prune them gently, taking care not to cut back beyond where leaves or needles are growing (since these plants don’t regrow well from old wood). If you have a flowering hedge (like a lilac hedge), we’ll time our trimming after its bloom period so you still get those lovely flowers each year.
What to expect
We’ll place tarps or drop cloths if needed to catch clippings, especially if your hedge is next to a flower bed or lawn you want to protect. After trimming, we rake up and collect all those thousands of little cut pieces – we won’t leave a mess, promise!
Your hedge will immediately look more orderly and defined. With consistent care, the hedge will also grow thicker over time, filling in any thin spots. You’ll be able to enjoy the privacy and beauty of a manicured hedge without the backache of doing it yourself. Just relax on the patio while we do the snipping!
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“Tony’s pruning restored our maple’s natural shape - trees have never looked better!”
Quote SourceMark T., Airdrie
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“Efficient, professional, and thorough cleanup. Highly recommend Arborista.”
Jane D., Calgary
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"Cherry tree blossoms so well this spring! And my bushes are cleaned up. Thanks for service Tony"
Irina T., Calgary
Hedge Trimming: FAQ
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Most hedges and shrubs benefit from a good trim once or twice a year. Fast-growing hedges like cotoneaster often need two trims – one in late spring/early summer and another light one in late summer. Shrubs that flower should generally be trimmed after they bloom. Regular trimming helps keep plants dense, healthy, and looking their best.
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The best time depends on the type of plant:
Spring-flowering shrubs (like lilacs) should be trimmed right after they bloom in early summer.
Summer-flowering or foliage shrubs (like spirea or ninebark) are best trimmed early spring before new growth.
Evergreen hedges (like cedar or juniper) can be lightly trimmed in late spring or early summer.
Late summer trims are also great for shaping before winter – but we avoid heavy pruning too late in the fall to protect plants from frost damage.
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This is a common issue caused by hedges growing too tall without enough light reaching the lower branches. When we trim your hedge, we shape it slightly wider at the bottom than the top. This classic arborist trick helps sunlight reach all parts of the hedge and keeps it thick and full from top to bottom.
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Yes – in a good way! Regular trimming encourages new growth. When we cut back the outer growth, it signals the plant to produce more shoots, leading to a denser, bushier look. For flowering shrubs, trimming at the right time can also improve blooming next season.
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Don’t worry, there’s almost always a way to fix it! If a shrub or hedge is very overgrown, we can perform a rejuvenation pruning – carefully removing the oldest, thickest branches to encourage fresh new shoots from the base. It might take a season or two for full recovery, but it’s a great way to bring tired plants back to life.
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Absolutely! Whether you want a natural look or a formal, shaped appearance, we’ll trim to match your style. We’re happy to create neat, level hedges, rounded or squared-off shrubs, or even simple topiary shapes. We'll always discuss the options with you before trimming.
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Yes! We bring tarps to catch trimmings when needed, rake up everything afterward, and leave your yard looking neat and tidy. You can choose to compost the clippings yourself or we can haul them away for you.
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We use both, depending on what’s best for your plants. For delicate shaping and detailed work, we often use sharp hand shears. For larger, tougher hedges, we may use professional-grade electric trimmers to make quick, clean cuts. Either way, we prioritize keeping your plants healthy and looking great.