Shrub & Ornamental Pruning
Shrub & Ornamental Pruning in Virginia Beach
Shrubs grow fast in coastal Virginia. A boxwood hedge that looked crisp in April can be shaggy by June, and foundation plantings that were waist-high when the house was built are suddenly covering windows. Regular pruning keeps them in proportion with the house and keeps them from crowding each other out.
We prune shrubs and small ornamentals by hand and by shear, depending on the plant. Formal hedges get a clean, flat shape. Flowering shrubs get selective cuts at the right time of year so you don't lose next season's blooms.
Shrub trimming and pruning starts from $85 per session, based on the number and size of plants. Signature and Estate members save 10%.
What we prune and how
- Hedges and formal shrubs — boxwood, holly, ligustrum, wax myrtle — sheared to a clean shape
- Flowering shrubs like azaleas, gardenias and hydrangeas pruned selectively, timed around their bloom cycle
- Small ornamental trees and crape myrtles thinned and shaped from the ground, without topping
- Dead, damaged and crossing branches removed
- Growth cut back from siding, windows, walkways and AC units
- All clippings collected and hauled away, beds and walks cleaned up
We don't do climbing, large tree removal or work near power lines. If something needs an arborist, we'll tell you.
Why timing and technique matter
The fastest way to ruin a flowering shrub is to prune it at the wrong time. Azaleas set next year's buds shortly after they bloom in spring, so shearing them in late summer cuts off next April's flowers. Many hydrangeas work the same way. We know which plants bloom on old wood and which on new, and we schedule accordingly.
Crape myrtles are the other common casualty. Cutting them down to stubs every winter — sometimes called 'crape murder' — produces weak, whippy growth and ugly knuckles. We thin and shape them instead, which keeps the natural form and the bark that makes them worth having.
Keeping shrubs off the house matters too. Plants pressed against siding hold moisture against it and give insects an easy path inside. A few inches of clearance makes a difference.
How LOMAR handles it
Our process
- 01
Walk the beds
We look at what you have and how it's been pruned before, and agree on the shape you want.
- 02
Time it right
Each plant is pruned in the season that suits it, so blooms and health aren't sacrificed for neatness.
- 03
Prune
Shears for formal hedges, hand pruners for selective cuts on flowering and ornamental plants.
- 04
Clean up
Clippings removed from beds, lawn and hard surfaces before we leave.
Pruning for Virginia Beach landscapes
Coastal Virginia's long, humid growing season means many shrubs need more than one trim a year. Fast growers like ligustrum, wax myrtle and Leyland-style screens often need shaping in early summer and again in early fall. Slower plants like boxwood and dwarf hollies may only need one careful shearing.
Older neighborhoods in 23451 and 23454 — the North End, Linkhorn Park, Great Neck — often have mature foundation plantings that have been sheared into tight balls for years. Those can sometimes be brought back into a more natural shape over a couple of seasons with selective thinning.
Hurricane season is another reason to stay ahead of it. Overgrown shrubs and low ornamental limbs catch wind and break, and a yard that's been kept in proportion generally comes through a storm with less cleanup.
Common questions
- When should azaleas be pruned?
- Right after they finish blooming in spring. Pruning later in the year removes the buds for next season's flowers.
- Do you top crape myrtles?
- No. We thin and shape them to keep their natural form instead of cutting them back to stubs.
- How often do shrubs need trimming?
- Fast-growing hedges often need it twice a year here. Many flowering shrubs need one well-timed pruning.
- Do you haul away the clippings?
- Yes. All clippings are collected and removed, and beds and walks are cleaned up.
Related services
Compare what each plan includes on the Plans page, or see all services.
Instant Estimate
See your price before anyone calls you.
Enter your Virginia Beach address and the instant quote tool measures your property and shows an estimated price in about a minute.