Trimming hedges is a relatively simple project that almost any homeowner can do. However, depending on the length and height of the hedge it might be preferable to hire someone to do the job. A long hedge can take several hours to trim and if the hedge is high, climbing up and down a ladder many times as you work your way down the length of the hedge can be exhausting. Muscles can be sore for a few days afterward if those muscles aren't used to regular exertion. However, the benefits of doing it yourself will provide a feeling of accomplishment when the hedges are neatly trimmed with an added bonus of getting some fresh air and exercise.

The growth rate of the particular hedge plant will determine how often the hedge needs to be trimmed to keep it neat. Plan on trimming the hedge at least once a year. If the hedge consists of flowering plants, trim after the blooms have gone by. According to Dr. Sharon Douglas from The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), "Trees and shrubs without flowers or fruit: These should be pruned when they are dormant, typically in late winter or spring, before growth has begun." In addition, birds and wasps haven't started building nests in the hedge yet at this time of year which makes a much more pleasant and safer trimming environment.

Hedge trimming tools are inexpensive and available at local home centers. However, more expensive power trimmers are available as well and a ladder will be needed for tall hedges. If the hedge is well-maintained a pair of hedge trimmers for the exterior growth, pruning shears and loppers for thinning out the interior will probably be all that's needed. If the hedge is extremely overgrown, a pruning saw might come in handy.

Thinning out thick growth will allow sun to penetrate the hedge and encourage new green growth throughout. Patricia H. Reed writing for SFGate advises, "Avoid cutting boxwoods off at a consistent height because shearing prompts thick foliage at the tips, creating an outer shell of foliage that blocks sunlight and airflow, causing the interior of the plant to die out." If the inner branches of the hedge are blocked from the sun the shrubs will appear green and leafy on the outside, but the inside of the hedge will consist of leafless branches.

Trimming off the new growth when the hedge plants are in this condition will leave a hedge of bare branches. However, this condition can be reversed with some work. Reed continues , "You can renew sheared hedges and specimen shrubs that have developed a thin shell of outer growth and a leafless interior by either thinning or renovation." She goes on to explain that thinning is cutting back one third of the hedge's branches to allow air and light to enter and rejuvenate the plants while renovation consists of cutting each plant down to within six or twelve inches from the ground.

Once any necessary pruning and thinning is done the hedge can be trimmed back for neatness. Some homeowners like to use guides made with wooden stakes set at each end of the hedge with string tied to each stake. Keeping the strings straight and level provides a guide for trimming the hedge evenly.

Other homeowners, on the other hand, can confidently trim the hedge without guides and use their best judgement as they work their way down the length of the hedge. Either way, the hedge needs to be trimmed so that it's slightly wider at the bottom than the top to allow light and air to penetrate the interior. Dr. Sharon Douglas explains, "The triangular shape helps to expose more of the plant to light and eliminates sparse, twiggy growth at the base." This will prevent the hedge from becoming leafy on the exterior with a leafless interior.

For fun and creativity certain hedge shrubs like boxwood and yew are receptive to being trimmed into geometrical shapes and other objects. This trimming and shaping of shrubs and hedges is referred to as topiary gardening. Some homeowners have the time, patience and desire to turn hedge maintenance into an creative work of art. From hedges that are perfectly rectangular to hedges trimmed into elaborate sculptures, topiary can give your yard unique character.

There are plenty of beginner books for sale and online tutorials to assist in learning how to practice the art of topiary gardening. Creating a simple geometric shape like a rectangle or ball is a good project for a beginner and can be accomplished with time and care by keeping a close eye on the process making sure the shape is as even and smooth as possible. More complicated shapes such as animals can be made with the help of wire frames.

Shaped wire frames can be purchased or made at home with chicken wire. The frame is placed over the plant and serves as a guide for trimming. Frames can also be placed over small young plants to guide them as they grow to fill in the frame. Jill Kokemuller writing for SFGate explains, "As they grow, train, prune and tie the shrubs to the frame so they grow into the frame and form the correct shape." This can take several years of care and patience to achieve but eventually you will be rewarded with a uniquely shaped hedge.