Professional shrub trimming, pruning, and plant health care for Ellicott City, Columbia, and Howard County. Expert maintenance and problem-solving since 1986.
Professional shrub and plant care for Howard County properties
Call for FREE EstimateHealthy, well-maintained shrubs and plants are essential elements of beautiful Howard County landscapes. Shrubs provide structure, privacy, seasonal interest, and foundation planting that frames homes. But shrubs require regular, skilled care to remain healthy and attractive. Without proper trimming, pruning, and maintenance, even the best shrubs become overgrown, misshapen, or diseased, detracting from your property's appearance rather than enhancing it.
At Greenlawn Inc, we've been caring for shrubs and plants throughout Ellicott City and Columbia since 1986. Our comprehensive shrub care services cover everything from routine maintenance trimming that keeps plants looking neat, to rejuvenation pruning that restores overgrown shrubs, to complete removal of problem plants and installation of better replacements. We understand Howard County's common landscape plants, their specific care requirements, optimal timing for trimming different species, and how to diagnose and solve plant health problems.
Regular maintenance trimming keeps shrubs neat and healthy. Shape maintenance, size control, and appearance enhancement.
Specialized pruning for plant health and structure. Rejuvenation techniques restore overgrown or neglected shrubs.
Professional hedge shaping for formal and informal styles. Boxwood, privet, arborvitae, and all hedge types.
Complete removal of overgrown, dead, or unwanted shrubs. Root excavation, stump grinding, and site cleanup.
Disease diagnosis, pest control, and problem-solving. Professional treatment keeps plants healthy and thriving.
DIY shrub trimming often creates more problems than it solves. Homeowners frequently trim at wrong times (cutting off flower buds or stimulating late-season growth vulnerable to winter damage), use incorrect techniques (topping shrubs or creating bare interiors), or simply lack the equipment and knowledge to do the job properly. Professional shrub care succeeds because we understand plant biology, proper timing, and techniques that promote healthy growth while maintaining attractive forms.
Our 39 years serving Howard County means we've worked with every common landscape shrub in the region. We know which plants tolerate aggressive pruning and which require gentler approaches, optimal timing for trimming flowering shrubs without sacrificing blooms, how to maintain formal hedges versus more natural forms, and techniques for rejuvenating overgrown shrubs without shocking them. This expertise—combined with professional equipment and efficient crews—delivers results DIY work simply cannot match.
Many homeowners use "trimming" and "pruning" interchangeably, but these are actually different services with different goals:
Shrub trimming is regular maintenance that controls size and maintains shape. Trimming involves removing new growth to keep shrubs at desired dimensions and forms. This is typically done 2-3 times per year for most Columbia and Ellicott City landscape shrubs. Trimming maintains the status quo—it keeps healthy shrubs looking neat and prevents them from outgrowing their spaces. Most landscape maintenance falls into the trimming category.
Shrub pruning is more specialized work focused on plant health and structure. Pruning involves selective removal of branches to improve plant form, stimulate new growth, remove dead or diseased wood, or rejuvenate overgrown shrubs. Pruning requires understanding plant growth patterns and making strategic cuts that influence how plants develop. Rejuvenation pruning can restore severely overgrown shrubs by cutting them back dramatically, allowing them to regrow with better structure.
Healthy shrubs that simply need size and shape maintenance require trimming. Overgrown shrubs that have gotten out of control, plants with dead or crossing branches, or shrubs with poor structure benefit from pruning. Many properties need both—regular trimming for most shrubs, plus occasional pruning for problem plants or rejuvenation projects. During consultations, we assess your shrubs and recommend appropriate services.
Hedges require specialized care beyond general shrub trimming. Our professional hedge shaping services maintain formal and informal hedges throughout Howard County. Whether you have crisp boxwood borders, privacy screens of arborvitae, or traditional privet hedges, we have the expertise and equipment to keep them perfectly shaped. Hedge shaping requires understanding proper taper (wider bottoms than tops for light penetration), optimal trimming frequency for different species, and techniques that maintain dense, full growth from top to bottom.
Sometimes shrubs are beyond saving or simply wrong for their locations. Our complete bush removal service handles overgrown foundation plantings, dead or dying shrubs, or plants that homeowners simply want gone. We provide complete removal including roots and stumps, not just cutting shrubs at ground level. After removal, we can help you select better replacement plants or simply leave beds clean and mulched. Many Ellicott City and Columbia properties are dramatically improved by removing outdated or overgrown shrubs and either replanting with better choices or expanding lawn areas.
When shrubs develop problems—yellowing leaves, dead branches, pest infestations, disease symptoms, or general decline—our plant health care services diagnose causes and implement solutions. Common issues in Howard County include boxwood blight, scale insects on hollies, winter injury on broadleaf evergreens, and various fungal diseases. Professional diagnosis is critical because different problems require different treatments. We identify issues accurately and recommend appropriate treatments, whether that's targeted pesticide applications, cultural practice changes, or in severe cases, plant removal and replacement.
Proper shrub care timing is essential for Howard County landscapes. Different plants require trimming at different times based on their growth patterns and flowering habits:
Early spring (March-April) is ideal for pruning summer-blooming shrubs like roses, butterfly bush, and crape myrtle. Spring is also the time to prune overgrown evergreens before new growth begins. However, spring-blooming shrubs like forsythia, lilac, and azaleas should NOT be pruned in spring—they bloom on old wood and spring pruning removes flower buds.
Late May through June is perfect for trimming spring-blooming shrubs immediately after flowering. This allows them to set buds for next year's flowers. It's also time for the first shaping of fast-growing hedges like privet.
Mid to late summer is when most shrubs receive their primary trimming in Howard County. Plants have completed their main growth flush and can be shaped without stimulating excessive new growth. Hedges typically need 1-2 additional shapings during summer to maintain form.
Early fall allows final light trimming before plants enter dormancy. Avoid heavy pruning after early September—late-season pruning stimulates new growth that won't harden off before winter. Winter (December-February) is excellent for structural pruning of deciduous shrubs when lack of foliage makes branch structure visible.
Don't let overgrown, poorly maintained shrubs detract from your property's beauty. Professional shrub and plant care from Greenlawn Inc keeps your Ellicott City or Columbia landscape looking its best year-round. Our experienced crews understand proper techniques, optimal timing, and how to maintain healthy, attractive plants. We've been the trusted choice for Howard County shrub care since 1986, and we'd be honored to care for your landscape.
Professional shrub and plant care for Howard County
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Trusted by Howard County families since 1986
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About Greenlawn Inc: Since 1986, Greenlawn Inc has provided expert shrub trimming, pruning, and plant care services to homeowners throughout Ellicott City, Columbia, and Howard County, Maryland. Our comprehensive services include regular shrub trimming, specialized pruning, hedge shaping, bush removal, and plant health care—everything needed to maintain beautiful, healthy landscapes throughout Howard County.