Cedar hedges are everywhere in the Fraser Valley, and in our mild, wet climate they grow fast. Trim at the right time and they stay dense and green. Trim at the wrong time, or too hard, and you can leave brown gaps that never fill in.
The best times to trim
- Late spring (late May to June): after the first flush of new growth. This is the main trim of the year.
- Late summer (August): a lighter tidy-up to keep the shape through winter.
Avoid heavy trimming in hot, dry spells, since freshly cut cedars lose moisture quickly. Avoid late fall too, because new growth won't have time to harden before frost.
Check for nesting birds before trimming in spring and early summer. If you find an active nest, leave that section until later.
How much to take off
The golden rule with cedars: stay in the green. Cedars don't regrow from old, bare brown wood. If you cut back past the green foliage, that patch will likely stay bare.
- Take off only part of the current year's growth on each trim
- Shape the hedge slightly narrower at the top than the bottom, so sunlight reaches the lower branches
- Keep the top level with a string line rather than by eye
Laurels and other hedges
English laurel grows even faster than cedar and tolerates harder pruning, since it can regrow from older wood. It usually needs trimming twice a year. Boxwood is slower and needs only a light shaping.
When to call a pro
- The hedge is taller than you can safely reach from the ground or a short ladder
- It's been left for several seasons and needs a careful cutback
- It's very long, and hauling away debris would take you multiple trips
- Branches are near power lines, which always needs a qualified crew
Typical cost for trimming a 50 ft cedar hedge runs around $300 to $900, depending on height, how overgrown it is and haul-away. See the cost guide.
Compare quotes from local hedge and pruning crews in Chilliwack, Langley and across the valley.