Shrub & Hedge Trimming

Shrubs and hedges are the backbone of most landscapes, providing structure, privacy, and visual interest throughout the year. But keeping them looking their best requires regular professional trimming. At OakFix Lompoc Tree Services, we provide expert shrub and hedge maintenance that keeps your plantings healthy, attractive, and properly shaped. Our crew has the skills and equipment to handle everything from small foundation plantings to large formal hedges.

Proper shrub trimming is about more than just aesthetics. Regular maintenance promotes dense, healthy growth, prevents disease problems, controls size, and extends the life of your plantings. Neglected shrubs quickly become overgrown, leggy, and unattractive. Once they get too large or misshapen, restoration becomes difficult and expensive. Consistent trimming throughout the year keeps shrubs manageable and looking great.

Shrub and Hedge Services We Provide

We offer comprehensive shrub care tailored to your landscape needs:

• •Formal hedge trimming: Precise shaping and maintenance of geometric hedges and topiaries
• •Natural shrub pruning: Selective pruning that maintains plants' natural forms and flowering
• •Size control: Keeping shrubs within bounds without destroying their appearance
• •Renovation pruning: Restoring overgrown or neglected shrubs to proper size and shape
• •Privacy screening: Maintaining hedges for maximum density and privacy
• •Foundation plantings: Keeping shrubs near your home properly sized and attractive
• •Flowering shrub care: Timing pruning to maximize blooms on flowering species

We work with all common landscape shrubs including boxwood, privet, photinia, oleander, rosemary, lavender, and dozens of other species. Each type has specific needs for timing and technique. Our crew knows how to handle each one properly. Combined with our tree pruning services, we can maintain your entire landscape.

Formal Hedges vs Natural Shrub Pruning

Shrubs can be maintained in different styles depending on your landscape design:

Formal Hedge Trimming

Formal hedges feature precise geometric shapes with flat tops and straight sides. Common formal hedges include boxwood, privet, and yew. These require regular trimming to maintain crisp edges and dense growth. We use professional hedge trimmers and hand shears to create perfectly level tops and uniform sides. Formal hedges typically need trimming 2 to 4 times per growing season to look their best. The more often you trim, the denser the foliage becomes.

Proper formal hedge maintenance requires skill. Hedges should be slightly wider at the bottom than the top so lower branches receive adequate light. We take care to avoid cutting into old wood that will not regenerate. Regular professional trimming keeps formal hedges looking sharp and prevents them from becoming too wide or overgrown.

Natural Shrub Pruning

Natural pruning maintains shrubs' inherent growth habits rather than forcing them into geometric shapes. This approach works better for flowering shrubs, informal landscapes, and native plantings. We selectively remove branches to control size while preserving the plant's natural form. This method requires more knowledge of plant growth patterns but creates more naturalistic results.

Natural pruning considers each shrub's flowering cycle. Spring-blooming shrubs get pruned after flowering, while summer bloomers are pruned in late winter. We remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches, thin crowded areas, and head back overly long shoots. The result looks natural rather than obviously pruned, while still keeping shrubs healthy and appropriately sized.

When and How Often to Trim Shrubs

Proper timing makes a huge difference in results:

Timing Based on Plant Type

Spring-flowering shrubs like lilac and forsythia bloom on last year's wood. Prune them immediately after flowering so they have time to develop next year's flower buds. Summer-flowering shrubs like butterfly bush bloom on new growth and should be pruned in late winter or early spring. Non-flowering evergreen shrubs can be trimmed almost any time during the growing season.

Trimming Frequency

Fast-growing hedges may need trimming 3 to 4 times per growing season. Moderate growers typically need 2 trimmings. Slow-growing shrubs might only require annual pruning. New plantings need frequent light trimming to encourage dense growth. Mature specimens need less frequent but more thoughtful pruning. We can set up a maintenance schedule that keeps your shrubs looking great year-round without over-pruning.

Seasonal Considerations

Avoid heavy pruning during extreme heat or drought when plants are already stressed. Late fall pruning is risky in cold climates because new growth will not harden off before winter. In Lompoc's mild climate, we have more flexibility, but we still avoid pruning during the hottest summer months when possible. Spring and fall are ideal times for most shrub work.

Common Shrub Problems We Fix

We regularly help homeowners deal with these shrub issues:

• •Overgrown shrubs: Plants that have outgrown their space and are blocking windows, walkways, or views
• •Leggy growth: Shrubs with bare lower branches and foliage only at the top
• •Uneven hedges: Hedges with gaps, dead sections, or irregular height
• •Poor flowering: Flowering shrubs that produce few blooms, often due to improper pruning
• •Disease and pest damage: Shrubs affected by fungal diseases, scale insects, or other problems

Many shrub problems result from years of improper or neglected care. While we cannot always fix everything in one visit, our renovation pruning techniques can often restore even severely overgrown shrubs. For shrubs beyond saving, we can recommend replacements and handle the removal and installation.

Seasonal Shrub Maintenance Programs

Keeping shrubs and hedges looking their best requires consistent care throughout the year. Our maintenance programs take the guesswork and work out of shrub care:

We schedule visits at appropriate intervals based on your specific plantings and their growth rates. Fast-growing hedges get trimmed more frequently, while slow-growing specimens need less attention. We track each plant's needs and time our visits for optimal results. You never have to worry about when to call us. We show up on schedule, do the work, and leave your landscape looking professional.

Maintenance programs cost less than scheduling individual visits throughout the year. You also get priority scheduling and discounted rates on additional services. For property managers and commercial clients, our programs ensure consistent professional appearance without the hassle of coordinating multiple service calls.