When is the best time to Prune?
Knowing when to prune hedges in Australia is the difference between unhealthy-looking plants and a solid, stunning green fence guarding your property.
Hedges require different care based on their type, and the expert team at Amico in Sydney has the tips you need to know.
Deciduous hedges
We recommend formative pruning directly after these hedges have been planted, then within the first two years of the plant’s development. You can do a little light shaping in winter when the hedge is dormant. Maintenance pruning can be performed every summer for healthy development, but never when the weather is too dry.
Evergreen hedges
Plant these in the spring and give them their first trim straight away, followed by biannual pruning. If you want a dense hedge, you can increase the number of trims. Always target the new growth and cut with a shear or a powered tool. Trimming this variety of hedges in summer will create a more woody hedge.
Lilly Pilly
You should trim this variety around late winter or early spring. Wait until after the frost has cleared but try to beat the spring growth.
Photinia
Much like the Lilly Pilly, late winter or early spring trim is best; just keep in mind that this hedge has a tendency to be very dense. If left unchecked, this can restrict further growth as sunlight will be unable to access the middle. Trim in late spring after the growth spurt to avoid any issues.
Boxwood
This hedge is a little temperamental and prefers to be trimmed on cloudy days. Direct sun can easily burn its freshly cut leaves and branches, and you’ll want to make sure you use a sharp tool to minimise any damage.
Viburnum
This variety does not require much pruning at all. Light trimming throughout the year is fine; heavy save the heavy pruning for early spring less than annually unless it becomes overgrown.
Murraya
This hedge is responsible for a pleasant scent and is often kept taller so you can enjoy its beautiful flowers. Minimal pruning in spring and autumn is best, and you should only prune from the top to ensure healthy flowers.
Forsythia
This hedge flowers in spring, and pruning is best in early summer. The goal is to make sure the shrub has enough matured wood for the following season’s blossom next season.
How to Prune your Hedges like a Pro
To help your hedges grow and look good, you need to trim them and perform some simple maintenance or shaping. In some cases, moderate to comprehensive pruning may also be required.
You’ll need a pair of electric hedge cutters (with an extension pole for tall hedges) along with some personal protective equipment (PPE).
For light pruning
- Wait until the main bud break
- Choose a dry, overcast and frost-free day, avoiding direct sunlight
- Use a pair of cutters with small teeth to target thin branches
- Trim in a trapezoid shape making the bottom branches longer than the top
- Clip roughly 10–15 cm of the newly grown shoots in a straight line horizontally
For moderate pruning
- Make sure the teeth spacing of the cutter is bigger than the thickness of the branches
- Work on frost-free days
- Cut back branches by as much as two-thirds
For hard pruning
- Choose frost-free winter days
- Use cutters with large teeth and a powerful motor
- Prune to the thickest trunk for dense growth in the spring
What are the benefits of trimming hedges?
No one wants overgrown and stringy hedges. The benefits of regular trimming and pruning include:
- Controlling the size of the hedges
- Cleaning and shaping for a better aesthetic
- Thicker and fuller growth
- The removal of diseased, dying, and irregular branches
How Amico can help you with trimming your hedges
Save the need to buy a hedge trimmer and have our experts do it for you! The specialist pruners at Amico have years of experience creating formal hedges and making sure gardens around Sydney look their best. Save the secateurs and let us handle the tricky work of creating perfect hedging plants for you. Contact us today for a competitive quote on the perfect care for your hedge plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions about how to care for your standard or flowering hedge? Check out our FAQ section:
When should you not cut hedges?
An important rule of thumb is not to cut your hedges in direct sunlight. hedges are sensitive and direct heat on freshly cut stems can cause a burn. No one likes landscaping when it’s too hot, so save both your hedges and yourself from sunburn and wait until late summer or early spring.
How do you trim a hedge to promote growth?
A regular light trim of around 2cm is a good way to promote growth on a hedge. Remember not to get too ambitious with shapes while your hedge is small, just in case you trim a little too much off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y4T6yv5L1k
What can happen if you trim hedges too late in the year?
It is important to choose the right times of the year to trim your hedges to avoid damage to the plant, while also allowing it time to grow in the right months. Clearing deadwood can promote this, and you want to make sure that your plant is properly insulated against the cold, or even extreme heat.
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