They are used to delineate boundaries between neighbors, screen views, accent flower borders, and help direct snow and wind movement. In order for a hedge to provide these and many other benefits, it must receive annual maintenance. This Extension Extra covers the proper application of shearing to maintain deciduous and evergreen hedges. Shearing involves the heading of the current year's shoot growth and differs from pruning. Pruning is covered in the Extension Extra 6033, Pruning Deciduous Shrubs.
Shearing makes use of heading cuts.
Since shearing hedges involves the removal of the terminal bud of a growing shoot, it is also sometimes referred to as pinching. Deciduous Versus Evergreen Hedges Hedges may be deciduous or evergreen and informal or formal. The choice of deciduous or evergreen depends upon the function of the hedge. If a screen is needed during the winter months, then evergreen is the best choice. Evergreen hedges, however, often take longer to establish, may suffer from winter burn, and cannot be rejuvenated as easily as deciduous hedges.