Shrub & Hedge Trimming in Farmington, CT

David's Landscaping provides professional shrub trimming in Farmington, CT and the surrounding towns of Avon, West Hartford, Simsbury, Southington, Collinsville, Burlington and more. We trim shrubs, hedges and small ornamental trees of any size, and we time each plant to its own growth cycle so it stays full, healthy, flowering and the size you want. Choose one or two trimming visits a year. Cleanup is included and haul-away is available. We're a family-owned, licensed and insured company (CT HIC# 0670708) with more than 15 years of experience.

Call or text 203-908-1987  |  Get a Free Trimming Quote

• Shrubs, hedges and small ornamental trees of any size
• Trimmed at the right time for each plant, so you don't lose next year's flowers
• 1 or 2 visits a year, billed after each visit
• Overgrown shrub recovery plans, hard cut-backs and removals
• Cleanup included, with haul-away available for an extra charge
• Licensed & insured, family owned and operated

What's Included in a Shrub Trimming Visit

Good shrub trimming isn't just running a hedge trimmer over everything. Here's what we do on every trimming visit:

1. Identify every plant. Each shrub is trimmed according to its own bloom and growth cycle.
2. Shape for health. Hedges are cut wider at the base than the top so light reaches the lower branches.
3. Stay in the green. We cut within the leafy growth, never into bare wood that won't grow back.
4. Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches to open up the plant and improve airflow.
5. Pull shrubs back from the house, windows, walkways and driveways.
6. Clean up. Clippings are raked and blown off beds, lawns and hard surfaces. Hauling the debris away is available for an extra charge.
7. Flag problems. If we spot insect damage or disease, we'll let you know.

Trimming Plans: 1 or 2 Visits a Year

Most shrubs need trimming at least once a year, and hedges and fast-growing shrubs look best with two trims. Choose the plan that fits your property:

When to Trim Shrubs in Connecticut

Timing is the most important part of shrub trimming. Trim a plant at the wrong time of year and you can cut off next year's flowers or push out tender growth that gets killed by frost. Here's when to trim the most common Connecticut shrubs:

Why didn't my lilac bloom? Most likely it was trimmed in fall, winter or early spring, which removes the flower buds it set the summer before. Trim lilacs right after they flower.

Hedge Trimming Done Right

The most common hedge problem we see in Farmington, Avon and West Hartford is a hedge that's full on top and bare at the bottom. It's almost always caused by trimming the hedge wider at the top than the base. The top shades the lower branches, and they drop their leaves.

We trim every hedge with a slightly tapered shape, wider at the bottom and narrower at the top, so sunlight reaches every branch. Formal hedges get crisp, straight lines. Informal shrubs get a natural shape that suits the plant.

Overgrown Shrubs: What Can Be Saved

An overgrown shrub is a thin green shell over a core of bare wood. Cut past that shell and there's nothing left but sticks. Removing too much at once can also send a plant into shock, and some plants simply die. That's why regular trimming matters, and why overgrown shrubs need a plan, not a chainsaw.

• Leafy shrubs can regrow from bare wood, but slowly. Expect scattered tufts of leaves the first year, filling in the second, and a real shrub again by the third.
• Arborvitae, juniper and most conifers never regrow from bare wood. Cut too far and they stay brown permanently.
• The one-third rule: under normal circumstances, never remove more than about one-third of a shrub in a single season.

Your options for overgrown shrubs

1. Gradual reduction: take off about one-third per season over two to three years.
2. Renewal pruning: for multi-stem shrubs like lilac, forsythia and spirea, cut the oldest, thickest stems to the ground over three years.
3. Hard cut-back: when a shrub is blocking a walkway, door or window right now, a hard cut is sometimes worth it. Expect a two-to-three-year recovery.
4. Removal and replacement: for conifers that won't regrow or shrubs too far gone, removal and a fresh planting is often the better investment.

Small Ornamental Trees, and When to Call an Arborist

We trim and prune small ornamental trees like Japanese maples, dogwoods, crabapples and flowering cherries, along with shrubs and hedges of any size. We do not work on large trees. In Connecticut, pruning and removing large trees falls under an arborist license. If you need a large tree trimmed or removed, contact a licensed Connecticut arborist, not a landscaper.

Before Your Trimming Visit

• Clear the work area. Please move planters, furniture, decor, toys and other items away from the shrubs. For liability reasons, our crew does not move customer belongings, so areas that aren't cleared may not get trimmed.
• Weather may shift the date. We don't trim in heavy rain or storms, so visits are sometimes rescheduled for weather.

How Much Does Shrub Trimming Cost?

Every property is quoted individually. These are the main factors that affect the cost of shrub and hedge trimming:

• Number and size of shrubs: a few foundation shrubs versus a long, tall hedge.
• Hedge height: tall hedges and screens that need ladders or staging take more time.
• How overgrown they are: regular maintenance trims cost less than cut-backs.
• Number of visits: one or two trims a year.
• Access: tight spaces, slopes and plants against the house.
• Debris: on-site cleanup is included. Hauling debris away is an extra charge.

Get your free shrub trimming quote →

Towns Where We Trim Shrubs & Hedges

David's Landscaping is based in Farmington, CT, and we trim shrubs and hedges throughout these Hartford County towns and nearby communities:

• Shrub trimming in Farmington, CT, including Unionville and neighborhoods along the Farmington River, our home base
• Hedge trimming in Avon, CT, from the Route 44 corridor to the hillside homes below Talcott Mountain
• Shrub trimming in West Hartford, CT, from West Hartford Center and Elmwood to Bishop's Corner
• Shrub and hedge trimming in Simsbury, CT, including Weatogue and West Simsbury
• Bush trimming in Southington, CT, including Plantsville and Milldale
• Shrub trimming in Collinsville, CT and the rest of Canton, CT
• Shrub trimming in Burlington, CT
• Bristol, CT · Plainville, CT · Newington, CT · New Britain, CT · Bloomfield, CT · Hartford, CT · Windsor Locks, CT · Suffield, CT

Billing and Communication

• Billed after each visit. We don't collect payment in the field, so there's no need to be home.
• Questions or concerns? Contact David directly. Our crews have a full schedule, so please send questions, requests and concerns straight to David, the owner, at 203-908-1987 or careformygrass@gmail.com, instead of to the crew.

Why Homeowners Choose David's Landscaping for Shrub Trimming

• The right cut at the right time. Every plant is trimmed for its own bloom and growth cycle.
• Healthy shapes that last. Tapered hedges, cuts kept in the green, and no shearing into bare wood.
• Honest advice on overgrown shrubs: what can be saved, how long it takes, and when replacing makes more sense.
• Any size job except large trees, which we'll always tell you belong with a licensed arborist.
• 15+ years of experience, licensed and insured (CT HIC# 0670708).
• One company for your whole property: lawn mowing, planting, mulching, planting bed weed control, spring and fall cleanups, hardscapes and drainage.

How to Get Started

1. Request a free quote. Call or text 203-908-1987 or fill out our quote form.
2. Pick your plan. One or two trims a year, plus haul-away if you want it.
3. We trim on schedule. Just clear the work area beforehand, and you'll be billed after each visit.

Shrub Trimming FAQs

How often should shrubs be trimmed?

At least once a year, and twice a year for hedges and fast-growing shrubs like privet, boxwood and yew.

When is the best time to trim shrubs in Connecticut?

It depends on the plant. Trim spring bloomers like lilac, azalea and forsythia right after they flower. Trim summer bloomers like panicle hydrangea, spirea and butterfly bush in late winter or early spring. Trim hedges in late spring, with a lighter trim in midsummer.

Can I trim shrubs in the fall?

Avoid heavy trimming from late August through fall. It pushes out new growth that won't harden off before frost, and the plant can be damaged over winter.

When should I trim hydrangeas?

Panicle and smooth hydrangeas bloom on new growth, so trim them in late winter or early spring. Bigleaf (mophead) hydrangeas bloom on old wood, so keep pruning light and do it right after flowering.

Why didn't my lilac bloom this year?

It was most likely trimmed in fall, winter or early spring, which removes the flower buds set the previous summer. Trim lilacs right after they finish blooming.

Why is my hedge bare at the bottom?

Usually because it's been trimmed wider at the top than at the base. The top shades the lower branches until they drop their leaves. Trimming the hedge wider at the bottom fixes it over time.

Can severely overgrown shrubs be saved?

Often, yes, but it takes time. Most leafy shrubs need two to three years to recover from a hard cut-back. Arborvitae, juniper and most conifers never regrow from bare wood, so those are often better replaced.

How much of a shrub can I cut off at once?

No more than about one-third in one season. Removing more can send a shrub into shock, and some plants won't survive it.

Can you cut back arborvitae or juniper that got too big?

Only a little. They don't regrow from bare wood, so cutting into the brown interior leaves permanent bare spots. We can trim the green growth, but heavily overgrown conifers usually need to be replaced.

Do you trim trees?

We trim small ornamental trees like Japanese maples, dogwoods and crabapples. We don't work on large trees. In Connecticut those require a licensed arborist, so please contact an arborist for large tree work.

Do you haul away the clippings?

Cleanup on site is included: clippings are raked and blown off beds, lawns and hard surfaces. Hauling the debris away is available for an extra charge.

Do I need to be home for my trimming visit?

No. Just clear any items away from the shrubs beforehand. Our crew doesn't move customer belongings. You'll be billed after the visit, and no payment is collected in the field.

Does fertilizer help shrubs after trimming?

Yes. An organic, slow-release fertilizer twice a year helps shrubs grow denser and recover faster. We recommend Holly-tone for acid-loving shrubs like rhododendron, azalea and holly, and Plant-tone for most everything else.

What towns do you provide shrub trimming in?

We trim shrubs and hedges in Farmington, Unionville, Avon, West Hartford, Simsbury, Southington, Collinsville, Canton, Burlington, Bristol, Plainville, Newington, New Britain, Bloomfield, Hartford, Windsor Locks and Suffield, CT.

Get a Free Shrub Trimming Quote in Farmington, CT

Ready for healthy, well-shaped shrubs and hedges? David's Landscaping trims every plant at the right time, the right way, throughout Farmington, Avon, West Hartford, Simsbury and the surrounding towns.

Call or text 203-908-1987  |  Request Your Free Trimming Quote

David's Landscaping · Farmington, CT · Licensed & Insured · CT HIC# 0670708