How to prune Lilly Pilly?

[Chintah]

 

 

Hi, we planted these Lily Pilly resilience 2 years ago to help screen the view of our neighbours. They should grow to 2m wide x 5m tall. They have reached 4 m tall but are very sparse and narrow. I have been tip pruning which hasn’t helped much, so would it be more beneficial to lop the top off to hopefully encourage more density and width. Would the trees still eventually reach their full height potential of 5m?

They are planted on the south side so it’s quite shady which I guess is the problem, but we couldn’t find anything else that’s quick growing and tall enough to do the job.

Thanks. 

[JacobZ]

Hi @Chintah,

Your Lily Pilly has grown quickly in height, but the sparse and narrow form is likely due to being planted on the south side, where light is limited. While this variety tolerates part shade, it thrives in full sun. In lower light, they tend to grow taller and thinner as they stretch for light, which explains the lack of density.

Tip pruning encourages bushiness in ideal conditions, but in your case, a harder prune would be more effective. Reducing the top by 0.5 to 1 metre will help redirect growth into the sides and encourage lower branching. Late winter to early spring is the best time to do this. Don't worry, your plants will still reach their full height of 5 metres in time.

To help improve density, make sure the hedge is getting as much light as possible. If possible, trim surrounding trees to reduce the amount of shade it is experiencing.

You can also apply a native slow-release fertiliser such as this Scotts Osmocote Native Controlled Release Fertiliser in spring to help encourage bushier growth. 

In short, topping the plants now is a good move. It should boost width and fullness, and they’ll still grow taller later.

Check out How To Grow And Care For A Lilly Pilly for some further guidance.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[Chintah]

Thanks very much Jacob, we really appreciate your advice.