Aussie Gardening

[micks74]

Hi, i have had in the ground a number of Lilli Pilly's (hunchy) in an attempt to grow a screening hedge to my adjacent laneway.

they have been in the ground about 3-4 years & they are about 1500mm high, does anyone have any suggestions for a speedy hedge, they do get plenty of water but are a little bare about midway up.
recently fed with blood & bone & dynamic lifter.

am i just being too patient ? i know i should clip back a hedge, not too sure how bad to cut back

any suggestions would be of help, cheers

[Correa]

Well I’m very sorry but, Lilli pilly are slow growing so that will just require a bit of patience with the plant. But if you want a instant barrier I would personal interplant with some like a pittostrum, which I personally don't like but they are quick growing and you can just cut them out when the lilli pilly grow to the height you want.

Formative pruning is key, in creating a hedge

First and most important step, is always always always have the bottom of the hedge slightly wider than the top. If you make it perfectly square light won't get to the bottom of the hedge and the growth will start dying back. You see this happen to so many beautiful hedges and its a real shame.

Second, don't let the plant get taller than you want. You need to start pruning before it reaches the height you desire.

Third prune and cut back the odd straggly branch including the top of the plant to keep a tight shape. You want to encourage lots of foliage growth on many branches not just one or two and keep doing this until it reaches what you want. If the hedge is forming a shape you don't like cut it back harder, but allow a longer amount of time for it to bounce back.

Four then regularly trim back with a hedge trimmer to keep it look nice and neat.

Hope that’s a help!

[Just Love Gardening]

You could consider planting a hedge of camellia sasanqua, Great looking plant, and very easy to have as a hedge