New hedges benefit from formative pruning for the first couple of years after planting. This helps to encourage bushy growth and a framework of branches that fill out the area you want. The timing of formative pruning depends on whether the hedge is deciduous or evergreen.

Once a hedge has reached a height and width you are happy with, maintain it with regular trimming to remove nearly all young (less than a year old) growth. This is usually carried out once a year on informal hedges, and once, twice or three times a year on formal ones.