Bush & Shrub Trimming in Denver

While many people assume trimming and pruning mean the same thing, they are actually two different services that achieve unique goals for your shrubs and bushes.

• Shrub Trimming
  Trimming focuses on maintaining the shrub’s desired shape and overall appearance. When we trim, we typically use power hedge trimmers or shears to skim the tops and sides of shrubs to help keep them in top shape. This creates a clean, uniform, manicured look that is great for hedges, border plants, and formal landscapes. Regular bush trimming is part of regular maintenance and helps produce well maintained bushes; most shrubs need trimming at least once a year.
• Shrub Pruning
  Pruning a shrub involves removing dead, dying, or diseased branches using selective, targeted cuts. We use hand pruners to cut at specific branch junctions, which is much different than the trimming technique of skimming the surface of the shrub. Pruning promotes healthy new growth by improving air circulation throughout the plant, and it plays an important role in extending the life the plant. The timing of pruning is critical to its success. If you prune at the wrong time of the season, you could overly stress the plant or remove next year’s flower buds.

American Arbor Care offers comprehensive trimming and pruning services for a wide range of shrubs, bushes, hedges, and ornamental plants. We approach every job with arborist-level knowledge that cares for the whole plant, not just cosmetic shaping.

Hedge & Border Shrub Trimming
Our hedge and border shrub trimming service includes:

• Precision shaping of hedges and border shrubs
• Regular trimming schedules tailored to growth rate and species
• Clean-up of all trimmings and debris after each visit

Your hedges and border shrubs will look clean and consistent under our care. Even after the first trimming, you will notice hedge trimming boosts curb appeal and improves the overall appearance of your outdoor space. Throughout the growing season, you can expect full, dense, and uniform hedges with no overgrowth blocking your walkways, block windows, or sight lines. If you have a fast-growing shrub, like privet, we will ensure it gets more frequent attention than a slower-growing shrub, like boxwood. Quote amounts can vary based on shrub size and accessibility issues.

Ornamental Bush & Flowering Shrub Pruning
Pruning ornamental bushes and flowering shrubs includes:

• Selective hand pruning of dead or weak branches, or branches that are crossing each other
• Spring-flowering shrubs (like lilac and forsythia) are pruned right after they bloom, because proper timing helps protect next season’s buds
• Summer-flowering shrubs are pruned in late winter or early spring
  Use of thinning cuts to open up the canopy and improve airflow and sunlight penetration in dense shrubs

Getting the timing right is key for pruning services. Our arborist expertise helps us maximize blooming year after year by preserving the flower buds. We also strive to extend the lifespan of ornamental plants that would otherwise become overgrown and woody. Proper pruning also supports fuller growth and a natural form that is wider at the bottom than the top for better light access. You can depend on us to employ proper pruning techniques to improve plant structure and reduce the risk of storm damage to top-heavy branches. After pruning, shrubs may also need deep watering during extended dry periods to support recovery.

Evergreen & Conifer Shrub Trimming
Denver abounds with junipers, arborvitae, and spruce shrubs, and we have the evergreen and conifer shrub trimming services to care for them. Our services include:

• Careful trimming of evergreen shrubs
• Correct timing of the trimming (typically late spring, after the new growth has hardened off)
• Shaping of the shrub to maintain a natural, proportionate appearance that does not look over-sheared

Unlike deciduous shrubs, many conifers cannot regenerate growth from bare wood, so cuts must be made into green, live tissue. Our arborists will handle these trimming jobs with precise care, maintaining year-round visual appeal. We keep evergreen shrubs looking full and healthy without creating bare patches, and we protect the plant’s structure against harsh winter weather.

Overgrown Shrub Restoration
If your shrubs have become overgrown or neglected, rely on us for restoration services, which include:

• Assessment of each shrub by a certified arborist who will determine whether it will require restoration or replacement
• A restoration plan that accounts for several factors, including species, age, and condition, before deciding whether pruning or replacement is best
• A phased pruning plan to gradually bring overgrown shrubs back to a healthy size and shape over one or two growing seasons to support plant health without cutting more than the shrub can handle at once

If your overgrown shrub can be revived with proper care, you can save the cost of a full shrub replacement. We know that using a single, aggressive cut to a neglected shrub could kill it, which is why our shrub restoration services are not a one-time fix. Some shrubs, such as spirea, can tolerate very hard cutbacks in the right situation, including removal of up to 90% of growth. We restore overgrown landscapes to a clean, manageable condition with long-term plans.