Eugenia Hedge Maintenance
Eugenia is a shrub that can be trained as a small, decorative tree, though few gardeners choose to grow it this way. It is much more popular as a hedge, with shrubs planted in rows 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m.) apart. With this spacing, the branches have the right amount of distance to grow together and create a dense wall of foliage. In order to maintain a neat line, Eugenia hedge pruning is recommended at least two and as many as six times per year.
How to Prune a Eugenia Hedge
To achieve a tight, straight boundary along your yard, do your Eugenia hedge pruning six times throughout the growing season by simply snipping the foliage into a straight line with a pair of hedge clippers. If you don’t mind a wilder, less manicured look, you can limit your pruning to once in the spring right after the flowers have faded, and once again in the fall. While some pruning is recommended to keep the sides of your hedge straight, it’s up to you when to prune Eugenia vertically. Left to their own devices, Eugenia hedges can reach 20 feet (6 m.) in height. They’ll remain healthy, however, if you keep them as low as 5 feet (1.5 m.) high.
