How to trim, shape and maintain healthy hedges in Brisbane gardens

Maintaing hedges isn’t just about appearances—it’s about promoting healthy growth and ensuring your garden looks its best all year round.

Hedges are everywhere in Brisbane. New builds, commercial sites, heritage homes and acreage properties. Some of the common varities like Murraya paniculata and Syzgium Australe (Lilly Pilly) are quick growing and form excellent screens. But their quick growing nature means that we get calls every week asking how to get an unruly hedge back under control.

Here are ten tips to help you maintain your hedge to thrive in Brisbane’s sub-tropical climate.

Don’t have the tools? Is your hedge too tall for comfort? Take the effort out of hedge trimming and call us today. We’ll handle it.

1. Identify your Hedge species

Before you start trimming, understand the type of hedge you’re working with. Some common Brisbane hedge varieties include:

• Lilly Pilly – Great for dense privacy screens.

• Murraya paniculata (Orange Jasmine) – Popular for its fragrant flowers.

• Duranta repens – Fast-growing and vibrant.

Different species require different trimming techniques and schedules. Research your plant’s growth habits to avoid over-pruning. Note - we are quite lucky in Brisbane, a lot of common hedge varieities (especially the ones listed above) can tolerate a harsh prune, but there are exceptions!

Not sure what plant species your hedge is? Give us a call on 0409 865 182 and we’ll be able to help you out.

Lilly Pilly hedge maintained by Cambium to match the angle of the driveway.

2. Use the Right Tools for the Job

Using proper tools ensures clean cuts that promote healthy growth. Hedge trimming tools you may need include:

• Hedge shears – Ideal for manual precision.

• Electric hedge trimmers – Great for large or tall hedges.

• Loppers – For thicker branches.

Always keep tools sharp to avoid tearing branches, which can lead to disease.

Trade Tip: Clean your tools after each use with rubbing alcohol to prevent spreading pests or diseases between plants. A steel wire brush is also great at cleaning up sticky residues left by different plants.

3. Trim Less, but More Often

Brisbane’s subtropical climate allows for year-round trimming, but the best times are spring and late summer when growth is most vigorous. Regular light trims are better than heavy pruning. Aim for trimming every 4-8 weeks during peak growth.

Avoid trimming during extreme heat or wet conditions, as this can stress the plants.

Trade Tip: Different plant species will respond to seasonal conditions as well; Murraya hedges will reliably see a new flush of growth after heavy rainfall events.

4. Shape is Key

When shaping your hedge, aim for a tapered design — wider at the base and narrower at the top. This ensures even sunlight distribution and prevents the base from thinning out.

Trade Tip: Use a string line or stakes as a guide for straight and even cuts, especially on formal hedges.

Murraya hedges will reliably put on a heavy flush of new growth after good rain event. Here we are completing a maintenance trim on a hedge in Clayfield, Brisbane where we are on ladders due to the tall height.

5. Avoid Over-Pruning

We usually stick to a general rule of thumb of only remvoving about one-third of the leafy foliage at a time to allow for healthy regrowth.

There are excpetions of course! Maybe you’ve left it a little too long or just moved into a new place where a hedge trimmer hasn’t been used in years. In this case your plants might look ‘leggy’ - more tree trunk than leafy hedge, with green leaf only at the top. Sometimes it is necessary to cut back a leggy hedge to about 15-20cm below where you would like to maintain your hedge. This then allows the tree to leaf out and gives you the opportunity to shape it however you want.

Trade Tip: For new hedges, focus on shaping early rather than trimming excessively to encourage thick, even growth.

6. Tackle Pests and Diseases

Hedges are vulnerable to common Brisbane pests like scale insects and psyllids. Regularly inspect your plants for signs of infestation, such as discolored leaves or stunted growth.

Trade Tip: Spray affected hedges with eco-oil or neem oil to control pests naturally. Pests typically target plants that are unhealthy or stressed - a soil test can help diagnose the problem.

7. Mulch and Feed

Healthy hedges need more than just pruning. Mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Feed your hedges with a balanced fertiliser to support lush growth - typically once or twice per year.

There’s organic and non-organic fertiliser options. We prefer to use organic products such as seaweed-based products, manure, compost and wood chips, but there’s plenty of off-the-shelf products specifically designed for fertilising plants.

Trade Tip: Apply fertiliser after trimming to give plants a nutrient boost for recovery.

Long uninteruppted lengths of hedge can be difficult to keep flat and straight. It takes time but eventually you get an eye for it and keeping things level comes naturally.

8. Safety First

Hedge trimming often involves ladders, elevated work, and extremely sharp blades running at very high speeds. Ensure your ladder is stable, and never overreach. For tall hedges, consider telescopic or pole hedge trimmers for safety and comfort.

Before you start doing any work, take a second to remind yourself of the dangers. Taking a hedge trimmer at full speed to the leg isn’t going to be a pleasant experience, nor is accidentally cutting the extension cable for your hedger (both are true stories from clients!).

Trade Tip: Wear the correct personal protective equipment including gloves, safety glasses, and ear protection when using powered trimmers.

9. Rejuvenating Old Hedges

If a hedge looks sparse or overgrown, don’t give up. Hard pruning can rejuvenate many species, but be cautious with sensitive species.

Trade Tip: Perform hard pruning in early spring to give your hedge time to recover during the growing season. In Brisbane you are lucky - you can give most hedge varieties are hard prune in autumn and winter and they’ll burst with new life pretty quickly once things start to warm up again.

This hedge in Fairfield, Brisbane hadn’t been touched in over 5 years before we were called in to remove over 3 metres of height. Many hedge species can take a hard prune back and in this case it was necessary reset the shape and promote healthy growth.

10. Aesthetics and Garden Harmony

Trim hedges to complement your garden’s overall design. Consider how their shapes and heights interact with nearby plants and structures.

Trade Tip: Mix formal trimmed hedges with natural, flowing ones for a balanced look in larger gardens.

Hedge trimming is a rewarding process that keeps your garden vibrant and well-maintained. By following these tips and adding regular care, you’ll ensure your hedges remain a stunning feature of your Brisbane garden. With patience and practice, you’ll master the art of shaping nature to create beautiful outdoor spaces.

Mini Murraya hedge shaped to match the garden aesthetic.