Hedge Trimming

A boundary hedge is one of the highest-impact features in a front yard. When it's sharp, the whole property looks deliberately cared for. When it's woolly and patchy, even a beautifully kept lawn cannot hide it. JJ trims hedges of all sizes — from a knee-high box border around a front bed up to four-metre lilly pilly screens along a back fence.

The right cadence for most hedges in the Eastern Suburbs is two trims a year. The big trim happens in spring, around six weeks after the new growth flush, when the plant has had a chance to push out and you can shape it cleanly. The second trim is in early autumn, mostly to tidy the lines before winter. Fast-growing varieties like photinia and ficus may want a third light trim mid-summer.

JJ uses sharp blades on every job — blunt blades shred leaves and leave the hedge looking brown for weeks. All clippings are cleared off the path, the lawn and the surrounding garden beds, then bagged and taken away. The only sign JJ has been there is the hedge itself, looking sharp.