A well-kept hedge comes down to clean, straight lines. Hedges cut straight and square, faces flat, tops level, and every clipping raked, blown and taken away. Whether it is a knee-high box border, a two-storey pittosporum screen or a row of shaggy westringias, the finish is the same: clean.
Overgrown hedges are a specialty. Most can be brought back hard and re-shaped over a season or two rather than removed, which is cheaper than replacing them and faster than waiting for new plants to fill in. On the tree side, I handle small and medium tree work done properly: shaping for form, thinning for light, lifting canopies off roofs and paths, and pruning fruit trees so they actually fruit.
Prefer to have a crack yourself? Read my free guide: how to cut a perfectly square hedge with a $5 string line.
What's included
- Formal hedge trimming and shaping
- Privacy screens and windbreaks
- Overgrown hedge restoration
- Bush and shrub shaping
- Small tree pruning and canopy lifting
- Fruit tree pruning
- Storm damage and overhanging branches
- All clippings and branches removed
When to trim what: a Geelong calendar
- Late spring (November to December): the first formal hedge cut after spring growth, which sets the shape for the year.
- Late summer (February to March): second cut to hold the line, once the heat has eased.
- Autumn (April to May): light tidy of hedges and screens; prune stone fruit after harvest.
- Winter (June to August): structure season. Deciduous trees are pruned bare, when the shape is easiest to read and hard cuts do the least harm.
Two times to avoid: hard cuts in January heat (burnt regrowth) and frost mornings (blackened tips). If in doubt, ask. Advising you when not to cut is part of the service.
Tree removal rules around Geelong
City of Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Shire both have local laws covering the removal or heavy pruning of significant trees, and coastal vegetation has its own overlays. I work within what the rules allow for small tree pruning and removal, and if your job needs a permit or a qualified arborist with climbing gear, I will tell you straight rather than make a mess of it.
Trimming questions
When is the best time to trim hedges in Victoria?
Most formal hedges take two to three trims a year: late spring, late summer, and a light autumn tidy. Winter is for structural tree pruning. Avoid hard cuts in extreme heat or frost.
Can an overgrown hedge be saved or does it need replacing?
Most can be brought back hard and re-shaped over a season or two rather than removed, which is cheaper than replacing and faster than regrowing.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Greater Geelong?
Often, yes. Council rules cover significant trees and coastal vegetation. I'll tell you straight if your job needs a permit or a specialist arborist.
Do you take away the branches and clippings?
Yes. Everything that comes off is loaded and removed the same day, and the ground underneath is left clean.
Got a hedge losing its shape?
Same-day reply, one written quote, fully insured.