When Should Hedges Be Cut Back In Pacific Northwest

Tall hedges are great accents for your backyard. They are ornamental pieces that liven up the space and can double as privacy fences from neighbors or the street.

Like other shrubs, dead, diseased, or damaged branches must be trimmed regularly to maintain health and appearance. Knowing how to care for tall hedges can help ensure your landscape stays healthy and vibrant.

When Should Hedges Be Cut Back In Pacific Northwest

In the Pacific Northwest, hedges should be pruned in late winter or early spring. That way, wounds made from pruning can be sealed with the new growth in spring.

In some areas of the Pacific Northwest, winters are mild, and spring can come early. March is usually a good month for hedge pruning. If needed, a second, lighter maintenance pruning can occur in fall at the end of the growing season.

Large Shrub & Hedge Trimming Services for Seattle Homeowners

If your hedges are large, complexly shaped, require precise shaping, are in difficult-to-reach areas, or have disease symptoms, it may be a good idea to seek professional help caring for hedges. 

Davey Tree is capable of pruning hedges over 12 feet tall and has the expertise and equipment to handle hedges 30 feet high or more. Your local Davey offices in Southeast Seattle, Northwest Seattle, and Tacoma can help you determine what’s best for the hedges in your yard.

Things To Consider When Choosing A Tall Hedge for PNW

If you’re interested in adding a tall hedge to your landscape, either as a privacy hedge or for ornamental purposes, there are a few things to consider when picking the best privacy shrubs for your landscape:

• Figure out which species work best for the climate you live in. The Pacific Northwest is known for mild year-round temperatures, wet winters, and dry summers.
• Know the sunlight and soil requirements for the hedges you choose and plant them where they will receive the sunlight, root space, and drainage they need.
• Be aware of your shrubs and hedges maintenance needs. How often should they be pruned, mulched, and watered?

Doing your research can help you determine the species and placement of your tall hedges for privacy.
Common Privacy Hedges & Shrubs for PNW

• Pacific Wax Myrtle  (Morella californica)
  • Description: Broadleaf evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves with black or yellow glands on the underside and a pointed tip. It is pleasantly aromatic, with tiny red flowers and clusters of dark purple, bumpy berries.
  • Hardy to zone 7
  • Growth height: 10-12 feet as a shrub and up to 30 feet as a tree.
  • Light requirement: Full sun or partial shade
  • Notes: Native to the Pacific coast and relatively fast-growing, the Pacific wax myrtle is tolerant of damp locations, summer drought and even relatively poor soils. It’s relatively pest- and disease-free and can become leggy if grown in full shade.
• American Arborvitae  (Thuja occidentalis)
  • Description: Coniferous evergreen tree/shrub with a narrow pyramid shape and elongated scales for foliage.
  • Hardy to zone 3
  • Growth height: 10-15 feet as a shrub and up to 40 feet as a tree.
  • Light requirement: Full sun
  • Notes: American arborvitae is a ubiquitous choice for its easy maintenance once established. Somewhat slow to grow and establish, this tree/shrub prefers deep, well-drained soils. It’s susceptible to many minor and a few major pests, diseases, and abiotic stressors. Emerald Green is a popular variety of the American arborvitae.
• Leyland cypress  (Cuprocyparis leylandii)
  • Description: The leyland cypress is a coniferous evergreen tree/shrub with wide columnar form with scale-like leaves. It’s a hybrid plant that rarely produces cones.
  • Hardy to zone 3
  • Growth height: 10-15 feet as a shrub and up to 70 feet as a tree.
  • Light requirement: Full sun
  • Notes: Very adaptable and fast-growing. Requires frequent, diligent maintenance if growing as a hedge. Prefers deep, well-drained soils. Hardy but also susceptible to some pests and diseases.
• Cherry Laurel  (Prunus laurocerasus) and Portuguese Laurel  (Prunus lusitanica)
  • Description: Cherry and Portuguese laurels are broadleaf evergreen trees/shrubs with delicate white flowers in the spring, dark green, opaque foliage and red cherry-like fruits that turn black when fully matured.
  • Hardy to zone 6
  • Growth height: 10-20 feet as a shrub and up to 50 feet as a tree.
  • Light requirement: Sun or shade
  • Notes: These trees/shrubs are relatively fast-growing and respond well to hard pruning. They prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Portuguese laurel is more tolerant of sun, heat and wind, and both are susceptible mostly to minor diseases.
• Japanese Camellia  (Camellia japonica)
  • Description: The Japanese camellia is a broadleaf evergreen shrub, usually dense and pyramidal. It has beautiful glossy green leaves and large flowers that bloom in winter/early spring.
  • Hardy to zone 7
  • Growth height: 10-15 feet
  • Light requirement: Sun to partial shade.
  • Notes: There are many varieties of Japanese camellia with various growth forms and flower displays. It prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soils and is susceptible to mostly minor pest and disease issues.
• Strawberry tree  (Arbutus unedo)
  • Description: Strawberry trees are broadleaf evergreen shrubs/small trees with attractive red-brown, shaggy bark and glossy green leaves, small urn-shaped blooms in winter/early spring and spherical ‘strawberry-like’ fruits in fall.
  • Hardy to zone 7
  • Growth height: 8-12 feet
  • Light requirements: Full sun
  • Notes: These trees are relatively slow-growing and respond well to pruning. They prefer well-drained, acidic soils and do not require summer watering once established. Avoid shady or humid planting locations. They are relatively pest- and disease-free.

SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION WITH A LOCAL DAVEY SEATTLE OFFICE IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE, NORTHWEST SEATTLE, OR TACOMA FOR SHRUB AND HEDGE TRIMMING