How often to trim hedges on the North Shore depends on what the hedge is. Fast growers like murraya, lilly pilly and photinia need two to three trims a year to stay dense and straight. Formal box and conifer hedges hold their shape on one or two. Leave any of them for a couple of seasons and you are into a staged reduction rather than a trim, which costs more and looks worse for a year.
Trimming frequency by hedge type
- Murraya. The Upper North Shore's front-fence hedge. Trim in late spring after the first flush, again in late summer, and give it a light tidy in autumn. Three trims a year keeps it tight; two keeps it acceptable.
- Lilly pilly. Similar to murraya but faster in wet years. Two to three trims a year. Watch for psyllid damage on new growth and trim it out.
- Photinia. Vigorous and prone to going leggy. Two to three trims, and never let it get more than about 30 centimetres above the height you want.
- Viburnum and escallonia. Two trims a year, spring and late summer.
- Buxus (box). Once or twice a year, ideally late spring and late summer. Avoid trimming in the heat of the day in January, which scorches the cut leaves.
- Conifers (leighton green, cypress). Once or twice a year, lightly. Conifers cannot be cut back into bare wood, so the height has to be managed every year rather than fixed later.
When in the year to trim
On the Upper North Shore, the main trims fall in late October to November and again in late February to March. The spring trim shapes the first flush; the late summer trim tidies the second and sets the hedge up for winter. A light autumn pass in April or May keeps things neat through the slow months. Avoid heavy trimming in midwinter, when cuts stay open longer, and in the hottest weeks of January, when freshly cut foliage burns.
Trim little and often. Every hedge that needs a hard reduction is a hedge that missed a couple of trims.
Bringing an overgrown hedge back
If a hedge in Wahroonga, St Ives or Turramurra has got well past its height, it comes down in stages. Most species tolerate losing about a third at a time, so a reduction is spread over two or three trims across a growing season, letting the hedge re-leaf between cuts. Cutting straight back to bare wood in one hit leaves gaps that can take years to fill, or never do on conifers. Our hedge trimming service handles staged reductions as well as regular trims.
Put it on a schedule
The easiest way to keep North Shore hedges right is to stop thinking about them. Most of our customers have hedge trimming built into their garden maintenance or lawn mowing schedule, so the spring and summer trims simply happen. Get a free quote and we will put your hedges on the calendar.
Frequently asked
Can I trim hedges in winter on the North Shore?
Light tidying is fine, but avoid heavy trimming in June and July. Cuts heal slowly in the cold and frost can damage exposed new growth in Hornsby, Mount Colah and the higher suburbs. Save the main trims for late spring and late summer.
How much can I cut off a hedge at once?
About a third of the height or width in one trim for most species, including murraya, lilly pilly and photinia. Conifers should only be lightly trimmed and never cut into bare wood. Larger reductions are done in stages across a growing season.