Shrubs creep. The hollies under the front windows, the boxwoods along the walk, the azaleas by the porch: a couple of seasons without a trim and they are covering windows, crowding the sidewalk, and hiding the house. MLE Lawn Landscape and Tree Service trims shrubs for homeowners in Matthews as part of our landscaping work, and the goal is always the same: shaped and full, not sheared into bare sticks.
What shrub trimming includes
- Shaping foundation shrubs so they sit below the windows and off the siding.
- Cutting back walkway and driveway shrubs so nobody brushes through wet branches on the way to the door.
- Thinning, not just shearing, so light gets into the middle of the plant and it stays green inside.
- Crape myrtle pruning that removes crossing branches, suckers, and seed heads without topping the tree.
- Cleanup: clippings raked out of the beds and hauled off, hard surfaces blown clean.
Timing matters
Different shrubs want different timing. Spring-blooming shrubs like azaleas should be trimmed soon after the flowers fade, since they set next year's buds over the summer. Hollies and boxwoods take a shaping trim well in late spring or early summer once the new growth has come in. Heavy cutting late in the fall is best avoided, because it pushes tender new growth right before the first frost. Crape myrtles are pruned in late winter. We will tell you what makes sense for the shrubs you actually have.
Shrub trimming in Matthews neighborhoods
The established neighborhoods off Sardis Road, like Sardis Forest and Stonehaven, have mature foundation plantings that have been growing for decades, and the beds there usually need more attention than the grass. Around downtown Matthews, near John Street and Trade Street, tight side yards and fenced backyards mean a lot of hand work. On newer lots along the Weddington Road corridor, the builder shrubs are small now, and a regular trim keeps them from turning into a problem later.
Shrub trimming in Indian Trail
In Indian Trail, HOA rules often spell out how front yards should look, and overgrown shrubs are one of the most common reasons for a yard letter. Builder shrubs in subdivisions off US 74 and Old Monroe Road either take off or give up in the clay. We trim the ones that are thriving back into shape and can replace the ones that are not.
Shrub trimming in Mint Hill
Mint Hill properties are larger, with more beds and longer rows of shrubs along drives and property lines. We quote by the work involved, so a long hedge row off Lawyers Road or Fairview Road gets a price that matches the job. If the woods at the back of the lot are creeping in, our tree service handles the limbs and small trees.
Pair it with fresh beds
Trimming goes hand in hand with mulch and pine straw: shape the shrubs first, then put fresh material down so the whole bed looks finished. If leaves and debris have piled up too, add a seasonal cleanup to the same visit.
How to book
Call (704) 634-0393 or send the form on our contact page. We will come look at the shrubs and give you a clear price before we start.
Shrub trimming questions
When is the best time to trim azaleas?
Right after they finish blooming in spring. Azaleas set next year's flower buds over the summer, so a heavy trim in late summer or fall cuts off next spring's blooms.
Can you prune crape myrtles without topping them?
Yes. Crape myrtles do not need to be cut back hard every winter. We take out crossing branches, suckers, and old seed heads, and thin from the inside so the tree keeps its natural shape. Late winter is the time to do it.
My foundation shrubs are covering the windows. Can they be saved?
Usually. Most overgrown hollies and boxwoods can be brought back over a season or two by cutting them back in stages instead of all at once. If a shrub is too far gone, we will tell you and can plant a replacement.
Do you clean up the clippings?
Yes. Clippings are raked out of the beds and hauled off, and the walks and driveway are blown clean before we leave.
Get a free shrub trimming quote
Matthews, Indian Trail, Mint Hill, and South Charlotte.