Transform overgrown, uneven hedges into crisp, beautiful landscape features with expert hedge shaping from Greenlawn Inc. Serving Ellicott City, Columbia, and Howard County since 1986.
Call for FREE EstimateHedges are one of the most prominent landscape features in Ellicott City and Columbia neighborhoods—they define property lines, create privacy screens, frame entryways, and add formal structure to gardens. But hedges require regular, skilled shaping to look their best and remain healthy.
At Greenlawn Inc, we've been shaping hedges throughout Howard County for 39 years. Our experience has taught us that successful hedge shaping is about more than just cutting plants into shapes—it requires understanding plant growth patterns, proper timing, correct cutting angles, and techniques that promote dense, healthy foliage from top to bottom.
Most hedges benefit from 2-3 shapings per year: late spring after new growth hardens, mid-summer to maintain shape, and early fall for winter prep. Flowering hedges require timing around bloom cycles—call for a custom schedule!
Hedges that don't receive professional shaping develop multiple problems:
We evaluate your hedge's current condition, species, growth rate, and your aesthetic goals. Different hedge types require different approaches. We identify any health issues, bare areas, or structural problems that need addressing.
Timing is critical for hedge health. We schedule shaping based on your hedge species and its growth pattern. Fast-growing hedges may need 3-4 shapings per year; slow-growing boxwood may need only 1-2.
We use commercial hedge trimmers for large, formal hedges, ensuring perfectly level tops and smooth sides. Critical technique: we always shape hedges slightly wider at the bottom than the top (tapered profile) to allow sunlight to reach lower branches.
Beyond surface shaping, we selectively thin hedge interiors to improve air circulation and light penetration. This reduces disease pressure and promotes healthy new growth from inner branches.
Hedge shaping generates substantial clippings. We thoroughly clean up all trimmings, removing them from your property. We also blow off surrounding areas to remove stray leaves and debris.
Our hedge shaping expertise covers all common hedge types in Ellicott City and Columbia landscapes:
Boxwood Hedges: The classic formal hedge. Slow-growing, fine-textured shrubs shaped into perfectly crisp geometric forms. Typically shaped 1-2 times per year.
Privet Hedges: Fast-growing, affordable option requiring 3-4 shapings during the growing season. Responds well to aggressive shaping and quickly fills in.
Arborvitae Privacy Screens: Extremely popular for privacy. These fast-growing evergreens require 1-2 shapings per year to maintain desired height and width.
Holly, Yew & Leyland Cypress: Each with unique characteristics requiring specialized approaches for optimal results.
Features geometric precision—flat tops, smooth vertical sides, and crisp edges. Requires more frequent maintenance and careful technique. We use guide strings, levels, and commercial hedge trimmers to achieve perfectly level, smooth surfaces. Common plants: boxwood, yew, and privet. Typically need 2-3 shapings per year.
Maintains more natural forms while still being controlled for size and fullness. Popular for privacy screens and naturalistic landscapes. We shape to control height and width while preserving natural growth habit, resulting in softer, more organic lines. Typically need 1-2 shapings per year.
Well-shaped hedges dramatically improve your property's appearance. Crisp, uniform hedges signal attention to detail and property care.
Privacy hedges must remain dense from ground to top. Our tapered shaping technique ensures light reaches all parts of the hedge, maintaining full, thick growth that effectively screens views.
Regular shaping prevents hedges from outgrowing their intended space. We maintain hedges at optimal heights and widths for your property size.
Proper shaping techniques promote healthy growth patterns. By ensuring light reaches all parts and maintaining good air circulation, we reduce disease and pest problems.
Hedges that receive regular professional shaping can thrive for decades. Neglected hedges often develop severe bare spots requiring complete replacement.
Shaping frequency depends on hedge species and growth rate. Fast-growing hedges like privet typically need 3-4 shapings per season (May through September). Moderate growers like arborvitae and holly need 1-2 shapings annually—usually late spring and mid to late summer. Slow-growing formal hedges like boxwood often need just 1-2 shapings per year. Most Ellicott City and Columbia properties benefit from at least 2 annual shapings to maintain neat, healthy hedges.
Yes, but the approach depends on hedge species and severity. Some plants like yew, boxwood, and privet tolerate severe renovation and will regenerate from old wood. We can cut these back hard to restore proper size and shape, though recovery takes 1-2 growing seasons. Other plants like Leyland cypress and arborvitae won't regenerate from bare wood—if these have become too large or bare inside, replacement may be necessary. We'll assess your specific situation and recommend the best approach.
For most evergreen hedges, late spring (May-June) after new growth has hardened is optimal for the first shaping. A second shaping in mid to late summer (July-August) maintains shape through fall. Avoid shaping after early September in Howard County—late-season pruning can stimulate new growth that won't harden off before winter, resulting in freeze damage. Flowering hedges require different timing based on bloom cycle.
Bare bottoms develop when hedge tops shade lower branches, preventing photosynthesis. Without light, lower foliage dies and doesn't regenerate. This is extremely common in hedges shaped with vertical sides or wider tops than bottoms. The solution is proper taper—hedges must be wider at the bottom than the top, allowing sunlight to reach all levels. When we shape your Howard County hedge, we always create this slight taper, critical for plant health.
Absolutely. Precise height control is one of the main reasons homeowners choose professional hedge shaping. Whether you need a 3-foot border hedge, a 6-foot privacy screen, or specific height for view preservation, we can maintain your hedge at your desired height. We use guide strings and levels to ensure perfectly even heights across long hedge runs.
Yes, complete cleanup is included in all our hedge shaping services. We collect and remove all clippings from your property—this can be substantial volume with large hedges. We also blow off surrounding areas to remove stray leaves and small debris. Your Ellicott City or Columbia property looks clean and professional when our crew finishes.
Professional landscape maintenance for your property: