Why Your Hedges Are Growing Unevenly

Uneven hedge growth is one of the most common frustrations for homeowners trying to maintain a tidy, well-manicured landscape. If your hedges look lopsided, patchy, or grow at different rates, you’re not alone—and it’s more than just an aesthetic issue. Uneven hedges can signal deeper problems with soil, sunlight, watering, or pruning technique.

At Haughey Brothers Landscaping, we help homeowners throughout Westfield and surrounding New Jersey towns get their hedges looking sharp and healthy again. Here's what you need to know about the causes—and solutions—of uneven hedge growth.

Common Reasons Your Hedges Are Growing Unevenly

Hedges are meant to provide structure, privacy, and aesthetic appeal—but when sections grow unevenly, the overall look of your landscape can quickly fall apart. Uneven hedge growth is more than a cosmetic concern—it’s often a symptom of underlying issues in your yard.

Below are the most common causes of uneven hedge growth in New Jersey landscapes and how Haughey Brothers Landscaping can help you solve them.

1. Uneven Sunlight Exposure

Sunlight plays a critical role in plant health and growth. Hedges that receive different levels of light on each side often grow at different rates, leading to an imbalanced, lopsided appearance.

• • • South-facing hedge rows typically grow more vigorously due to extended exposure to direct sunlight.
    • North-facing or shaded sides often receive limited or filtered light, which can lead to sparse foliage or stunted growth.
    • Obstructions such as fences, sheds, buildings, or overhanging trees can cast irregular shadows, reducing sunlight on one side.

Solution: We assess your site’s sunlight patterns and strategically prune to balance the canopy and redirect energy to underperforming sections. When necessary, we recommend relocating or reshaping nearby trees, shrubs, or structures to improve light access. If you're installing new hedges, we’ll help select sun-tolerant species that perform well in the available conditions.

2. Poor Soil Conditions

The health of your hedge starts below ground. If different sections of your hedge are growing at different rates, the soil beneath them may be inconsistent.

• • • Compacted soil restricts oxygen and water, preventing roots from spreading and absorbing nutrients.
    • Uneven grading can cause water to collect in low areas and drain too quickly from high spots.
    • Soil nutrient imbalances—especially deficiencies in nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium—can result in pale leaves and slow growth.

Solution: Haughey Brothers Landscaping offers detailed soil assessments and can amend your planting beds with organic compost, fertilizer, or topsoil. We also regrade landscapes to improve drainage and prevent standing water, ensuring that your hedges receive uniform support across their entire length.

3. Inconsistent Watering

Watering routines may seem simple, but small inconsistencies can have a big impact on hedge health. Depending on your irrigation setup, sloped property, or watering habits, one part of your hedge may receive too much water while another gets too little.

• • • Dry zones often appear on the top of slopes or farthest from sprinkler coverage. These areas may show wilted or yellowing leaves and stunted growth.
    • Overwatered areas can become waterlogged, leading to root rot, fungal disease, and dieback.

Solution: Our team can inspect and adjust your irrigation system to ensure even water coverage, especially along long hedgerows. We also offer complete sprinkler system maintenance and installation, including drip irrigation options that deliver water directly to plant roots with greater efficiency.

4. Poor Pruning Technique

One of the most common causes of uneven hedge appearance is incorrect or irregular pruning. While hedges do require routine trimming to stay neat and healthy, improper technique can do more harm than good.

• • • Over-pruning on one side can shock the plant, thin out growth, and leave permanent bare spots.
    • Under-pruning leads to a leggy, unkempt shape with inconsistent density.
    • Unlevel cuts result in crooked tops, gaps, or asymmetrical forms that worsen with each season.

Solution: Our professional hedge trimming services are timed to the specific growth cycles of your hedge species. We use sharp, calibrated tools and careful shaping techniques to maintain symmetry, encourage healthy branching, and prevent long-term structural problems.

5. Pest or Disease Problems

Pests and diseases often affect only part of a hedge at first, making it appear uneven before the problem spreads. If you notice one section of your hedge browning, thinning, or dying back faster than the rest, pests or pathogens may be the cause.

• • • Common pests in New Jersey hedges include spider mites, aphids, scale insects, and bagworms.
    • Fungal diseases such as root rot, blight, or powdery mildew can infect one side or root zone and spread if untreated.
    • Animal damage from deer or rabbits may strip foliage from one side, especially during winter months.

Solution: Haughey Brothers Landscaping can diagnose the specific issue, treat it using safe, effective methods, and prevent recurrence. If necessary, we’ll remove and replace affected sections with hardy, disease-resistant varieties suited to your local conditions.

How Professional Landscape Maintenance Can Help

Uneven hedge growth is rarely an isolated issue—it’s often a sign of broader imbalances in your landscape. Factors like compacted soil, inconsistent irrigation, drainage problems, and irregular pruning all contribute to poor hedge performance. Without addressing the root causes, even well-trimmed hedges will continue to struggle.

At Haughey Brothers Landscaping, we take a comprehensive approach to property maintenance. Our goal isn’t just to trim and tidy—we create healthy growing conditions that support strong, uniform, and long-lasting hedge growth throughout the seasons.

Here’s how our professional maintenance services can help:

• • Routine hedge trimming with a focus on symmetry, timing, and plant health
  • Soil improvement and mulching to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and replenish nutrients
  • Seasonal cleanups to remove debris, promote airflow, and reduce the risk of pests and disease
  • Drainage corrections including regrading, French drains, or dry creek beds to prevent waterlogging and root stress
  • Full landscape design and planting services to replace failing hedges or reimagine problem areas with better-suited species

We don’t just maintain your hedges—we improve the entire environment around them. With expert care, your hedge line can become a thriving, attractive feature that enhances your property year-round.

Proudly Serving Central New Jersey

We provide hedge trimming, landscape maintenance, and planting services throughout Westfield, NJ and surrounding areas, including:

• • Berkeley Heights
  • Chatham
  • Cranford
  • Madison
  • Mountainside
  • New Providence
  • Scotch Plains
  • Short Hills
  • Springfield
  • Summit
  • Westfield

Ready to Fix Uneven Hedge Growth?

Let’s bring balance back to your landscape.

If your hedges are growing unevenly, thinning out, or becoming difficult to manage, Haughey Brothers Landscaping is here to help. We offer expert landscape assessments, seasonal maintenance, and professional hedge trimming to restore clean lines and healthy growth.

Call today or request an estimate online to get started. We proudly serve Union County homeowners with personalized, high-quality landscaping solutions.