How to prune hedges

What to do

• Most evergreen formal hedges will benefit from two or three cuts each year, usually when they're actively growing from late spring.
• Cut the top of the hedge flat using string stretched between two stakes as a cutting guide.
• Prune the sides, making the top narrower than the base.
• Brush off trimmings from the top and sweep up.
• Tip: Keep flowering hedges in good shape by occasionally removing old branches and taking off growth to keep them within bounds.