Hedging - how should I trim these?

kageanrage · Jan 29, 2017 6:01 pm

Hi folks, would love a little help from the clever green thumbs out there.

We've put in these Red Robin hedge plants, hoping to ultimately have them 2m high, but our spacing is varied and about 1m average. Also many of them are too tall and skinny.

So we are planning to double our number of plants by adding one in each of the gaps, halving the spacing. This is because of the '0.3 rule' which I recently read about.

The new plants will only be babies, so very short. I'm planning to cut these existing plants down to the height of the new ones so that they are all the same height, and then being on top of regular tip pruning to encourage the sideways growth this time around.

Just checking if that is the recommended strategy, and that I'm not going to kill these existing plants by cutting them so severely (down to about 30-40cm height)

Thanks!

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BeatrixKiddo · Jan 29, 2017 7:59 pm

The .3 rule is a good guide to create a dense formal style hedge. The closer you plant the sooner they join up to create the 'wall' of green. You can leave them spaced wider, it just takes longer for them to fill together. There is pros and cons to closer and wider planting but it takes a while to explain. In a fence line planting like yours it won't matter that much.
Pruning, yes you definitely need to cut the lanky plants down to 3/4 of existing. Best to do this when there is a few days of mild weather, nothing in the mid 30's.

kageanrage · Jan 30, 2017 10:48 am

thanks for your reply!

we would ultimately like a dense formal style hedge, however we're in no rush and will be in this house for several more years at least.
If you think it won't matter too much, and will be only a matter of time to achieve the same results anyway, we'd be inclined not to add additional plants, and save $200+
Just wondering if you could tell me a little more about why cut to only 3/4 of existing height, how frequently to trim, and should I be trimming all plants to the same height?
Thanks

BeatrixKiddo · Jan 30, 2017 12:13 pm

Hi, general guide is to only prune 1/3 off most woody shrubs at any one time. I suggested 1/4 off (3/4 left) because we are in summer and the pruning will stress the plants a bit. I am being conservative btw. It's possible to take more than 1/3 off to even them all to height just make sure it's not hot and you keep the water up for the week or so after. And understand one or two plants could possibly turn their heals up. Not that likely but possible.

BeatrixKiddo · Jan 30, 2017 12:17 pm

If you want a formal hedge then yes its easier to keep them at the same height. Frequency of trimming; it's kinda how long is a peice of string.. Tip prune during the growing period and maintain the width you want as needed.

kageanrage · Jan 30, 2017 12:19 pm

great, thanks again!

vonsta76 · Feb 14, 2017 2:43 pm

Following.

I was wondering if you guys can help with my hedging. I planted some lilly pillies last october after i had handover. 4 of them look like this (somewhat smaller):

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Than these on the other side:

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They were all the same size when i bought them and all planted at the same time. Any ideas why the first lot are struggling to keep up? They get the same amount of water. Or is it common for them to grow at different rates?

Coral Homes Avoca 25 in Gainsborough Greens Gold Coast

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TheGardenWhisperer · Mar 27, 2017 11:21 pm

Just quietly, I'd cut 'em back half their size. However, BeatrixKiddo is on the money. For the less adventurous or skilled, it's sound advice.

Why would I cut lower? To encourage more growth lower down on the plant. Clipping ⅓ on those lanky things, you'll possibly get some open areas lower down. Too much new growth up high.

Have a go, should look good.