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Overgrown Shrubs and Hedges Blocking Views and Light
in Rochester, NY
Many homes in Rochester's suburbs — particularly in Penfield and Pittsford — were landscaped in the 1980s and 1990s with shrubs planted right against the foundation. Those plants were small then. They're not small now. Blocking windows is the obvious problem, but shrubs pressing against siding also hold moisture and can cause rot over time.
Quick Answer
Overgrown shrubs in Rochester can block first-floor windows entirely within a few growing seasons, especially arborvitae and forsythia planted too close to the foundation. The fix is cutting them back properly — not just shearing the outside, but thinning from within so light gets back in. Left alone, dense shrubs also trap moisture against the house siding. Call (585) 565-4955 to schedule a trim before they need to be replaced entirely.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Shrubs have grown above window sills or are covering lower panes entirely
- Dense hedge or row of arborvitae blocking the view to the street
- Interior rooms noticeably darker year-round on the shrub side of the house
- Branches pressing directly against siding or brick
- Shrubs have grown together into a single mass with no air gap between them
Root Causes
What Causes Overgrown Shrubs and Hedges Blocking Views and Light?
Plants installed too close to the house
Arborvitae and yews sold at nurseries in the Rochester area are typically shown at 3 to 4 feet tall. Many homeowners plant them 2 feet from the foundation. Within 10 years, the same plant is 12 feet tall and pressed against the eaves.
The Fix
Selective Pruning and Reshaping
Cutting the plants back to a manageable size and thinning interior growth opens them up without killing them. This works if the plants haven't been sheared into a box shape so many times that the interior is completely dead wood.
Skipped maintenance over multiple seasons
Rochester's growing season runs from late April through October, giving shrubs nearly six months of active growth per year. A forsythia or burning bush skipped for even two seasons becomes significantly harder to manage without losing the plant's natural shape.
The Fix
Rejuvenation Pruning
Rejuvenation pruning means cutting the plant hard — sometimes all the way back to 12 to 18 inches. It looks severe but encourages fresh growth from the base. Not every species tolerates this, so species identification matters first.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Plants installed too close to the house | Skipped maintenance over multiple seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Plants were small when installed and grew gradually over many years | ||
| Shrubs looked fine two or three years ago and have changed quickly since | ||
| Plants are pressed against the siding or foundation | ||
| Interior of the shrub is mostly dead wood with green only on the outside |
Free Inspection
Get a Diagnosis in Rochester
An on-site inspection is the only way to confirm which cause applies to your property. Free, no obligation.
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