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How to care for Lilly Pilly?

Hi I’m just wondering if anyone has some advise on caring for my Lilly Pilly. We have about 27 plants along a fence line to hopefully create a screen. Some plants are doing great but others are struggling. My husband trimmed some about 12 months ago and they haven’t recovered . I’ve had so many mixed messages on whether to trim them or leave them and just wondering if someone could give some advise. We are currently in autumn (Melbourne) unsure if I should put mulch down, cut back ect. The ones doing well are ones that didn’t get trimmed. Any advise would be much appreciated

Community manager's note: Check out How to diagnose and revive a sick lilly pilly for expert advice.

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Comments

Jason

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @ashleigh22. It's great to have you join us. I'm sure you'll find the community offers loads of handy ideas and inspiration for new projects as well as helpful advice and support whenever you need assistance.

The Bunnings team has a comprehensive guide How to grow and care for a Lilly Pilly that you should find helpful. The guide mentions that the general rule of thumb is to prune lightly after a growth flush, but Lilly Pilly can certainly tolerate a hard pruning if required.

Let me tag one of our amazing horticulturists in the community, the lovely @Noelle, to see if she can identify from your photos what might be causing some of your plants to struggle.

Thanks,

Jason

Noelle

Hi @ashleigh22

The lillypillies that have been trimmed are producing new growth on top, which is where I would expect them to. It is natural for shrubs to grow upwards towards the brightest available light, not from lower down on the bush (unless the top has been completely cut out).

The lower branches that have been trimmed have had their growing tips removed, so will tend to product less vigorous side shoots, leaving them looking scrappy.

The shrubs left untrimmed have a full, rounded shape and are doing well - so leave them alone until they form a continuous hedge, at which time the sides can be clipped to produce a neat face / edge to the lawn.

The others will recover fullness in time, but not until the next flush of growth occurs in Spring. Any really vigorous shoots growing from the base of the plant right down close to the soil should be cut right off to encourage stronger growth further up the main stem. Keep the weeds down too, to reduce competition for nutrients and moisture.

I wouldn't mulch at this stage - that too is best in mid Spring to help retain moisture in the soil over Summer.

ashleigh22

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/19347#Comment_19347

Thank you so much for all your helpful tips. So just to check I've got this right. Don't touch them just let them grow & they should eventually recover? Just remove any vigorous growing branches if there are any? I've attached a couple more photos in one of them I have put an arrow on a branch, would that be a vigorous one you would cut off? Thanks again for your time

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/72340#Comment_72340

Hi again @ashleigh22

The arrowed branch should remain for the time being - but remove the 'fluffy' stuff beneath it, close to the ground. This isn't going to amount to anything over time but draws nutrients away from healthier growth in the interim. Do the same to others that have been trimmed - remove the fluff close to ground level.

ashleigh22

Hi all!

back again with some Lilly pilly questions.

Living in Melbourne Victoria and trying to grow a hedge along our fence line. Trees are approx 5 years old. Some doing great other struggling. Left them through spring as suggested to thicken up which some have but some haven’t. Just not sure whether to continue to leave them til just before next spring and trim or what I should do. Some have flowered and now have berries and are looking a little sparse up top. Others have some patchy holes and some have produced small amount of new growth to the top only even after tip pruning. Any suggestions welcome, will attach photos of the ones that I’m not sure of/struggling.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/26466#Comment_26466

Hello @ashleigh22

If these are the latest photos of your Lilly Pillies, I suggest following @Noelle's advice and that is to trim the bottom of the plant so that it does not draw away nutrients from the main body of the plant.

Have you applied any fertilizer to the plant recently? If not, it's time to consider applying some to improve and bolster growth. At the moment I'm afraid it is still a waiting game, and the best you can do is to give your plants more nutrients and wait for it to grow bigger.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

ashleigh22

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/75903#Comment_75903

Thanks for your reply Eric. I fertilised in spring and watered with some Seasol a couple of weeks ago. I’m a bit confised as where to trim the bottom of the plant as I’m wanting a hedge from the ground up so if I trim the lower branches won’t this leave the trunks visable?

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/101793#Comment_101793

Hello @ashleigh22

If you prefer to have full coverage that is perfectly fine. However, any growth that does not contribute to the overall coverage of the wall, I suggest trimming off. The goal is to get enough growth from the Lilly Pillies so that you get that hedge height you're after. Just keep looking after them and they will eventually grow bigger.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

JRM2023

Hi Ashleigh,

its highly likely that the trees are being eaten by insects. Do many of the leaves have bumps on the top of the foliage and indentations on the underside? If yes, psyllids are the culprit. Severe infestations can cause the tree to appear like it’s sick and not growing. The second likely culprit are Lilly Pilly beetles, they eat the outside of leaves inwards. I’d recommend getting some Neem Oil and spraying it thoroughly throughout the trees on a regular basis, and if you wanted to go stronger use Baythroid Advanced. With pesticides, always follow the label and practice safety for yourself and others. Don’t spray if rain is forecast within two hours.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/26623#Comment_26623

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @JRM2023. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for jumping into the discussion.

Let me mention @ashleigh22 so they are alerted to your really helpful advice. It sounds like you're particularly knowledgeable on the subject. Have you had your own issues with caring for Lilly Pillies, or are you a bit of a garden expert? We've always got plenty of members seeking advice on their plants around the garden, so I trust your knowledge will be hugely appreciated.

I'll be looking forward to seeing what you contribute to the community and can't wait to hear all about your own projects and plans.

Mitchell

JRM2023

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/75985#Comment_75985

Thanks for the warm welcome @MitchellMc

I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but gardening is my firstly a passion and secondly my job. I’m still learning everyday, but I’m happy to share what knowledge I do have or at least point others in the right direction.

Lilly pillies, been an Australian native, are very common to come across. There is one example where a client had a severe infestation of pysyllids and their hedge was struggling. A year later with consistent treatment of Neem Oil and an initial treatment with Confidor tablets, the trees have shot up in height and all the bare spots and gaps are gone.

I’ve used Bunnings Workshop for inspiration and ideas for home D.I.Y and always observed how good the community interaction is, and finally decided to officially join in. Again, thanks for the welcome, and I’m looking forward to the experience here.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/101852#Comment_101852

Let me also extend a very warm welcome @JRM2023. We're looking forward to reading more of your posts soon.

Please don't hesitate to join in the discussion if you have anything to share or need a hand with a project.

Jason

ashleigh22

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/26623#Comment_26623

Thank you so much. No bumps on the leaves however the outter part of the leaves are jaggered. I just assumed this was damage from when we initially used a hedge trimmer to trim them but maybe it’s beetles. I will try and treat for that and see 🙂

thanks for your help

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/76130#Comment_76130

Hi @ashleigh22

Please keep us in the loop, if any other symptoms arise, please let us know.

Eric

valdavee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/19347#Comment_19347

Hi Noelle, I have a house in Walkerville South Gippsland. The back yard faces west and can get very strong winds in September. I have been thinking about growing Lilypilly along the fence line to block the neighbours. You can see the wooden fence I’m referring to in the picture. We are coastal - the beach is 5 mins away, so salty air, sandy but dark soil and windy at times. How would they stand up to these conditions? Or maybe there’s a better option?

JacobZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/91816#Comment_91816

Hi @valdavee,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

Please allow me to tag @Noelle so she is notified of your question.

I would say you should be fine planting Lilly Pillies as long as you take care of them, but I will wait and see what Noelle says.

Jacob

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/91816#Comment_91816

Hi @valdavee

Lillypillies should be fine but you will need to stake them and keep them well watered for the first summer at the very least, so they will establish well. They should be able to tolerate salty air and strong winds after that.

I'd look at the compact varieties that grow perhaps 3-4 metres tall and quite bushy, rather than the more tree-like varieties that head for the sky. Bunnings Wonthaggi should be able to assist you in choosing suitable types for your location.

To assist them in the first year, you might like to consider tree guards to give them some protection.

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