Winter is the best time of the year to do a hard shape-up on most Coast hedges. Growth's slow, sap pressure's down, and any heavy cut you make won't trigger the messy regrowth you'd get in spring.
Hedges like lilly pilly, murraya and viburnum tolerate hard pruning well in winter. If a hedge has gotten away from you over summer, late winter — early August — is the time to bring it back to shape. New growth in September will fill the lines properly.
Avoid hard cutting on anything flower-bearing right before flowering. Bottlebrush and grevillea both set buds in late winter; cut them then and you lose the spring show. Trim those after they finish flowering instead.
Frost is rare on the Coast but possible inland and up on the ranges. Don't take a heavy cut into a frost — the exposed inner growth can burn off. If a frost is forecast, wait a week.
If your hedges only get one shape-up a year, make it a winter one. A single proper winter cut is worth three rushed summer trims when you're trying to keep up with growth.
Need a winter shape-up booked? Drop us a message — we run a hedge week through late winter and bookings fill fast.