Your hedge care guide

Everything your new Lilly Pilly Resilience hedge needs, on one page. Follow the first 12 weeks and your hedge is close to bulletproof in our climate. Every plant is covered by our 60 day healthy plant guarantee, and following this guide is the best way to never need it. Bookmark this page, or print it and stick it on the fridge.

Download the care guide (PDF)One page, print it, fridge it.

What to expect

Height is instant. Density takes a season.

Day 1

Full height, sightline blocked, small gaps between plants. Exactly on track.

Week 6

Tips knit together and the row reads as one hedge.

Month 4 to 6

A solid green wall you cannot see a fence through.

PDF

The 12 week watering schedule

Weeks 1 and 2Every second day8 to 10 litres per plant, slowly, at the base
Weeks 3 to 6Twice a week8 to 10 litres per plant. Three times a week in heatwaves
Weeks 7 to 12Once a weekA deep soak per plant
After 12 weeksOnly in dry spellsDeep soak, especially through the first summer

Deep beats frequent. Run the hose gently at the base for 60 to 90 seconds per plant, or one full watering can. The soil should still be moist 15cm down the next day. A light daily sprinkle grows shallow roots that cook in January. If we installed your hedge, the temporary irrigation system we set up makes hitting these amounts easy.

Mulch (worth adding yourself)

  • A 75mm layer over the root zone keeps roots cool and moist
  • Pull it back a hand width from the trunks
  • Top it up every spring

Feeding

  • Slow release, native safe fertiliser
  • Early spring and early autumn
  • Skip high nitrogen products, they force floppy growth

Trimming for density

  • First light tip prune at 10 to 15cm of fresh growth
  • Then little and often, every 6 to 8 weeks in season
  • Keep the base slightly wider than the top

Season by season

  • Summer: extra water in heatwaves, no hard trims
  • Autumn: the best establishment season
  • Winter: ease watering right back
  • Spring: feed, mulch, start the trimming rhythm

Warning signs, decoded

Thirsty Wilting or dull, flat leaves

Deep water today and tighten the schedule for two weeks. Plants almost always bounce back within 48 hours.

Drowning Yellowing lower leaves with wet soil

Usually clay or a low spot. Skip the next watering and check drainage.

Normal A few inner leaves dropping

Standard settling in for the first month. Nothing to do.

Act now Whole plant browning fast

Something is wrong. Text photos to 0493 728 423 today.

Your 60 day healthy plant guarantee

Follow this guide and if a plant is still not thriving, text a photo to 0493 728 423 and we will make it right. Read the full guarantee.

Quick answers

The three questions everyone asks

How much water is 8 to 10 litres per plant?
About one standard watering can, or a hose running gently at the base for 60 to 90 seconds per plant. Slow and deep beats fast and shallow every time.
It has rained this week. Do I still water?
Light showers do not count. Unless you have had a proper soaking of 20mm or more, stick to the schedule for the first 12 weeks. Check the soil 15cm down: if it is dry there, water.
A plant looks off. What do I do?
Take two photos, one close on the leaves and one of the whole plant, and text them to 0493 728 423. We will tell you what is happening and what to do, usually the same day.

Something else on your mind?

Text us a photo
Here for the life of your hedge

Planted by us or not, we will help

Text a photo of any struggling hedge to 0493 728 423 and we will tell you what is wrong. Healthy hedges are good for business, even the ones we did not plant.

Shop hedges Text us a photo

Or call us now on 0493 728 423