In the first year after planting, little to no pruning is necessary. The most important thing is to irrigate your hedges so they can become established. Subsequent years can require 1-2 trims, depending on which hedge variety was planted and the desired size to maintain. For example, a vigorous-growing hedge like English Laurel will need to be pruned once in the spring and once in the fall to keep it as a 10-foot hedge for years to come, while an Emerald Green Arborvitae may only need a light tip here and there to keep it uniform. More details about pruning can be found in our pruning guide.