Shrubs Are Growing Fast Right Now — Here's What You Need to Know

Spring and early summer bring a burst of energy to your landscape. Warmer temperatures, longer days, and reliable rainfall mean your shrubs are in full growth mode — and if you're not paying attention, that energy can quickly turn into overgrown, unruly plants that take over your beds, block your windows, or crowd your walkways.

At Hoppe Tree Service, we get calls every year from homeowners wondering why their shrubs "got out of hand so fast." The answer is simple: this is the time of year when shrubs grow most aggressively, and without a plan, things can spiral quickly.

Here's what you need to know — and what you can do about it.

The Problem With Overgrown Shrubs

Overgrown shrubs aren't just an eyesore. Left unchecked, they can:

• Block light and airflow, creating damp conditions that invite disease and pests.

• Crowd neighboring plants, stealing nutrients and water from the rest of your landscape.

• Overwhelm your home's exterior, hiding architectural features and making your property look neglected.

• Become structural liabilities, with heavy, unsupported branches that snap under wind or ice load.

The longer you wait to address overgrowth, the harder — and often more expensive — the correction becomes. In some cases, severely overgrown shrubs need to be cut back dramatically (a process called rejuvenation pruning), which can stress the plant and leave your yard looking sparse while it recovers. Staying ahead of growth is always the better path.

Trimtect: Slowing the Cycle Before It Starts

One of the most effective tools in our shrub care toolbox is Trimtect, a plant growth regulator that slows the rate of new growth after pruning. Here's how it works:

After we prune your shrubs, we apply Trimtect directly to the foliage. The product is absorbed by the plant and signals it to slow down new shoot production — without harming the shrub's health

or appearance. The result? Your shrubs stay in their freshly pruned shape significantly longer between visits.

For homeowners who are tired of watching their arborvitae or boxwoods puff back out two weeks after a trim, Trimtect is a game-changer. It won't stop growth entirely, but it gives your landscape a longer window of looking sharp and well-maintained, and it reduces the total number of pruning visits needed over the course of the season.

The Right Pruning Program for Your Property

Every landscape is different, and the right pruning schedule depends on the types of shrubs you have, how formal or relaxed you want them to look, and your budget. Hoppe Tree Service offers two primary shrub care programs:

Annual Pruning Program

For clients who prefer a lower-maintenance approach, our annual pruning program provides one comprehensive shrub pruning visit per year, typically timed to the most effective growth window for your specific plantings. This works well for slow-growing species or naturalistic landscapes where a looser form is acceptable. We'll shape, thin, and clean up your shrubs to keep them healthy and proportional — once a year, handled completely.

Twice-Yearly Pruning Program

For clients who want a consistently manicured appearance — think formal hedges, foundation plantings around a high-visibility home, or commercial properties where curb appeal matters — our twice-monthly pruning program keeps your shrubs looking their best throughout the growing season. Regular, lighter cuts are actually better for many shrubs than infrequent hard cuts, promoting denser, healthier growth and reducing stress on the plant.

Combined with Trimtect applications, our twice-monthly program delivers a landscape that looks professionally cared for at all times.

Don't Wait Until It's a Problem

If your shrubs are already getting away from you this season, now is the time to call — not August, when the overgrowth has hardened off, and corrective pruning becomes more disruptive to the plant.

Our team at Hoppe Tree Service is currently scheduling shrub care visits for the season. Whether you need a one-time cleanup or want to set up an ongoing program, we'll walk you through your options and build a plan that fits your landscape and your schedule.

Contact Hoppe Tree Service today to get on the schedule. Request a quote below, or give us a call at 414-257-2111. 

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