When to trim a hedge in the GTA — and when not to

Timing matters more than technique. A well-shaped hedge cut at the wrong time still thins out.

Cedar and most evergreens

Late spring after the first flush, and again in mid-summer if needed. Avoid cutting into old wood — cedars do not reliably regrow from bare stems.

Deciduous hedges

Late winter while dormant for structural work, with a light tidy in summer to hold shape.

Why late-season cuts hurt

Trimming in early autumn pushes soft new growth that has no time to harden before frost. That growth burns over winter and the hedge looks worse in spring than if it had been left.

Shape

Slightly wider at the bottom than the top. It looks counterintuitive and it is the only way the lower branches get enough light to stay full.

Maintenance