A well-shaped hedge is more than just a garden boundary—it’s a way to add life and dimension to your yard. Whether you’re looking for a plant to enhance privacy, define your property boundary, or create stunning garden features, understanding how to shape your hedges properly is crucial for achieving an envy-worthy outdoor space.

Finding Your Perfect Hedge Shape

Despite what you might be thinking, there’s no universal “best” shape for hedges. The ideal form depends on a number of factors, including the plant species, your local climate, soil conditions, and how much time and effort you want to put into maintenance. One fundamental principle, however, holds true across all hedge types: the top should be slightly narrower than the bottom. This “pyramid principle” ensures that sunlight reaches all parts of the plant, promoting uniform growth and preventing the bottom branches from dying off due to lack of light.

Understanding Different Hedge Shapes

When it comes to hedge shapes, we typically see three main approaches in modern gardens.

Formal hedges

Formal hedges, characterised by straight sides and either flat or gently rounded tops, can create clean lines and geometric precision in your garden. These are particularly effective for blocking wind, defining clear property boundaries, and establishing different sections of your garden while maximising privacy and security.

Pyramidal hedges

Pyramidal hedges are exactly as they sound – having a broad base that tapers towards the top in a pyramid shape. This form promotes better light distribution throughout the plant, encouraging stronger growth at the base, and helping rain run off the leaves. These practical benefits often translate to reduced maintenance needs over time, and an overall healthier hedge.

Informal hedges

If you prefer a more unmanicured garden aesthetic but still want the privacy and boundary marking of a hedge, then an informal hedge shape may be the answer. With these, the hedge is left to grow naturally and is only lightly trimmed and pruned to manage height and any outward-poking branches. This more natural approach supports wildlife and adds texture and movement to gardens, creating whimsical, no-fuss outdoor spaces.

Essential Tips for Successful Hedge Shaping

The journey to a perfectly shaped hedge begins with patience. New hedges need a full year after planting before starting shaping, and full establishment typically takes between three and seven years. During this time, focus on light hedge trimming to encourage thickness and to develop a strong foundation before attempting to carve any detailed shapes.
Success in hedge shaping relies heavily on using the right tools and techniques. High-quality pruning equipment is essential, as is knowing how to use them effectively and safely. When working with leafy hedges, opt for secateurs rather than hedge trimmers to prevent torn leaves and maintain the plant’s health.
When cutting up close, it can be easy to get carried away, stepping back to realise the lines aren’t straight. To help guide your lines, we suggest setting up tomato stakes with string and cutting along this, or using wire templates when carving shapes.

Hedge Maintenance Tips

Regular hedge trimming prevents the most common hedge problems. Instead of having to perform a heavy cutting every now and then, aim for frequent light trimming sessions. Choose cool, overcast days for pruning to prevent leaf burn, and focus on removing new growth, which appears lighter in colour, rather than cutting into the darker old growth. Keep your tools clean and sharp for precise cuts, and always monitor for signs of pests or disease.

Creating Visual Interest

For a multi-dimensional look, consider combining different hedge species to add varied textures and colours throughout your garden. Layering hedges at different heights adds depth, while mixing deciduous and evergreen varieties ensures year-round greenery. When planning your hedge design, remember that deciduous hedges will lose their leaves in winter, while evergreens maintain coverage throughout the year.

How Jim’s Trees Can Help

Remember that successful hedge shaping takes time, dedication, and a certain level of skill. With patience and proper technique, you can create beautiful, healthy hedges that enhance your garden’s beauty while serving practical purposes. Working with the Jim’s Trees team, you can manage and perfect your outdoor space. Get in touch today to speak with one of our experts about our comprehensive services, from tree lopping and removal to commercial tree management.

Trees for Bushfire Prone Areas

Australia is the most fire-prone country in the world, with tens of thousands of bushfires each year. If you’re a homeowner looking for ways to keep your property and family safe during the peak summer season, then you might be surprised to find out how impactful your landscaping can be. From the trees you plant on your property to your year-round garden maintenance, you can take an active role in limiting the spread of fire around your home.

Best Trees to Plant in Bushfire Areas

We are 10 of the best trees for bushfire areas, what they need to thrive, and how they can help to manage the spread of bushfires on your property. From decades of experience, our arborists highlight why these 1o trees are fire resistant and designed to last extreme temperatures and harsh climate. 

1. River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)

Optimal Conditions: Tolerates a wide range of soils, preferring deep, well-drained soils. Grows best in areas with moderate rainfall and full sun.

Average Height: Up to 30 meters.

Maintenance: Low-maintenance once established. Regular watering may be needed during dry periods, but it’s quite drought-tolerant. Pruning is minimal but can be done to manage growth.

Fire-Resistant Features: High moisture content in the leaves, which can slow the spread of fire. However, the bark can be flammable under extreme conditions.

2. Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Optimal Conditions: Prefers well-drained soils and grows best in sunny locations.

Average Height: 7 meters.

Maintenance: Low-maintenance, tolerates drought but needs regular watering during dry periods. Pruning needed to maintain shape.

Fire-Resistant Features: Thick bark and high moisture content help the tree resist fire damage.

3. White Cypress Pine (Callitris glaucophylla)

Optimal Conditions: Grows well in poor, dry, and rocky soils. Tolerates heat and drought, and thrives in full sun.

Average Height: 10 to 20 meters.

Maintenance: Minimal maintenance required once established. Does well with infrequent watering.

Fire-Resistant Features: Resinous wood is less likely to combust in fires compared to other species.

4. Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus rudis)

Optimal Conditions: This tree thrives in moist, well-drained soils, particularly in floodplains, along riverbanks, and areas with regular water supply. It tolerates both wet and dry conditions once established but prefers full sun for optimal growth.

Average Height: 20 to 30 meters.

Maintenance: Once established, Flooded Gums are low-maintenance. They tolerate droughts, but they perform better with regular watering during prolonged dry spells. Pruning is generally only required to remove dead or damaged branches.

Fire-Resistant Features: Flooded Gums have a high moisture content in their leaves and a smooth, fibrous bark that can help prevent rapid fire spread. The bark often sheds in long strips, which can reduce the buildup of fuel. The tree’s high moisture content can also make it less likely to ignite quickly compared to other eucalypts.

5. Golden Wattle (Acacia victoriae)

Optimal Conditions: Grows best in well-drained soils and can tolerate dry conditions. Prefers full sun but can adapt to partial shade.

Average Height: 6 meters.

Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established, though watering during extended dry periods helps. Regular pruning to remove dead branches is advised.

Fire-Resistant Features: The leaves and bark contain oils that have moderate resistance to fire.

6. Coast Banksia (Banksia integrifolia)

Optimal Conditions: Prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate coastal conditions. Full sun is ideal for healthy growth.

Average Height: 8 to 12 meters.

Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established. Drought-tolerant but appreciates some watering during very dry conditions.

Fire-Resistant Features: Woody, fire-resistant bark and deep taproot that help the plant survive post-fire.

7. Lemon-scented Gum (Eucalyptus citriodora)

Optimal Conditions: Prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils. It thrives in areas with regular rainfall but is drought-tolerant once established.

Average Height: 30 to 45 meters.

Maintenance: Low-maintenance after establishment. Requires pruning to shape and remove dead wood, especially to reduce the risk of fire spread.

Fire-Resistant Features: Contains essential oils with anti-flammability properties, making it more resistant to fire.

8. River Sheoak (Casuarina cunninghamiana)

Optimal Conditions: Grows best in sandy or loamy soils near water sources but is drought-tolerant once established.

Average Height: 10 to 20 meters.

Maintenance: Very low-maintenance. Drought-tolerant once established and can withstand a variety of conditions.

Fire-Resistant Features: Fire-resistant due to its needle-like leaves and resinous wood.

9. Spotted Gum (Eucalyptus maculata)

Optimal Conditions: Prefers moist, well-drained soils but is adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Thrives in full sun.

Average Height: 25 to 40 meters.

Maintenance: Low-maintenance, tolerant of dry conditions, and once established, it requires little care.

Fire-Resistant Features: Thick bark and high moisture content reduce the risk of fire spreading.

10. Pine (Pinus radiata)

Optimal Conditions: Prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Tolerates dry conditions and can grow in a variety of soil types, though it does best in cooler, temperate climates.

Average Height: 15 to 20 meters.

Maintenance: Needs regular pruning to remove dead branches, especially at the lower trunk. Can be sensitive to high winds.

Fire-Resistant Features: While not naturally as fire-resistant as other species, it can be treated for fire resistance, and its wood has a slower combustion rate compared to many other conifers.

Other Fire-Proofing Measures

No tree is fully fire-resistant, and, unfortunately, there’s no way to completely fire-proof your yard, but planting any of the trees above is a worthwhile precautionary measure. Along with carefully choosing your trees, regular maintenance and tree pruning are important throughout the entire year, and especially during the summer, can also reduce the risk of fire spreading. 

Keeping your gutters free from foliage and debris will reduce the amount of material available to catch fire, making regular gutter cleaning an important step on your summer gardening list. Some of these tasks can require some technical gardening knowledge, particularly for tasks like pruning, where certain plants need different pruning cuts to stay healthy. In these instances, professional tree pruning may be the best way to limit the amount of dry or dead plant matter on your trees, which if left, is a high risk for catching fire.

Lastly, mulching your yard can also impact how fire-safe your property is. Mulches made from organic materials can be more prone to catching fire, whereas gravel and mineral mulches pose less of a risk.

Professional Guidance

Not only can making informed landscaping decisions impact your yard’s aesthetic, but they can be detrimental to your property’s safety. At Jim’s Trees, our experts know the ins-and-outs of planning, planting, and caring for trees, and can help make this process easy and stress-free for you. Contact the Jim’s Trees team today to speak to one of our friendly professionals about looking after your yard. 

As your yard comes back to life after winter, some areas might need a little extra attention to reach their full potential for another year. Your trees are one such area, and caring for your trees in spring is something you can do relatively easily. Trees can have a big impact on the appearance of a yard, so keeping them healthy is essential to maintaining the overall aesthetic of your garden or land.

At Jim’s Trees, we know a thing or two about this, so here are our experts’ top five tips for spring tree maintenance!

Inspect

Before you start your spring tree care, you should thoroughly inspect each tree so you can make a plan to address any issues you find. Early spring is the ideal time to do this as you’ll have a good view of the branches before new leaves and flowers grow.

The first thing to look for is any dead or dying branches. If left as they are, these are at risk of breaking or falling, and can be potentially dangerous to you, your neighbours, or anyone who might encounter them.

While you’re inspecting your trees, you should also keep an eye out for any animals or pests who might have made your trees home, and treat them appropriately.

Inspecting your trees shouldn’t just be a one-off task that you undertake at the beginning of the season. By incorporating this routinely into your garden care, you can keep on top of potential problems before they turn into something bigger.

Prune

Based on what you find when you inspect, the next step will likely be to prune your trees. Just as with inspecting, pruning trees in spring should be relatively straightforward as you’ll have better visibility of branches. Pruning is just one of the many services we offer at Jim’s Trees, so if you need a hand with the task, one of our experts will be happy to help.

Along with tackling broken, hanging, or potentially dangerous branches, you should also remove any parts of the wood that appear to be dead or dying. If left untreated, any lingering disease can quickly spread throughout the rest of the tree.

Clean Up

After your trees have been pruned, you should tidy up around them so there’s no debris or rubbish getting in the way. This includes raking, weeding, or whatever is needed to get your garden in a good state. Getting out in the garden throughout spring and keeping everything neat will also help to keep your trees healthy as the season goes on.

Spring Soil Care

Your trees’ health comes from the ground up, making soil care an important step in spring tree care. Applying fertiliser may be needed to replenish the soil nutrients, as these will likely have been used up and drained over winter. Soil care can depend on your plants’ needs, your location, and an array of other factors. Getting a professional opinion on this will be incredibly helpful when it comes to keeping your plants and trees healthy during spring before you move onto summer tree care.

While you’re at it, this is also a good time to start mulching. It’s important to mulch around trees properly so they can reap all of the benefits. You should aim to apply a layer that’s 3-4 inches deep, but leave a small perimeter around the tree base to ensure you don’t suffocate the tree. If you mulch too close, you risk the area becoming waterlogged, causing the tree to rot, and leading to a lot more work down the line!

Find New Opportunities

Once your spring tree care is completed, you might find that you have space for some new additions to your yard. Now is a great time to plant the perfect spring trees to liven up your land even more.

Contact Jim’s Trees

Our team of professionals at Jim’s Trees knows everything there is to know about caring for your trees year-round. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or queries, and we can tailor a service to your needs!

Moving into a new rental property is an exciting time that comes with a laundry list of tasks and to do’s. As a tenant, it’s your responsibility to know or find out what your responsibilities are, and what falls on the landlord to take care of, including home maintenance issues. When we think of home maintenance, it’s often just the inside of the home that’s considered, but the outside areas are equally important.

Having a garden is an attractive feature for many renters looking for a new place, and can be a deal breaker on whether or not to apply. The benefits of having your own garden are numerous, but it’s also important to remember that if you do choose to move to a property with a yard or trees, you’ll also be responsible for some of the upkeep.

But what is a tenant’s legal responsibility for tree maintenance, and is the landlord or tenant responsible for tree trimming and other chores?

Minor Garden Maintenance

Minor yard maintenance includes duties like lawn mowing, edging, and looking after flower beds. It also includes low-risk tree tasks like trimming and pruning parts of the tree that can easily be reached without risking harm to anyone.

These types of chores are the tenants responsibility to handle, as they can be done relatively easily and safely, and are considered to be part of the general household maintenance. This means that if you see that a low-lying branch is about to break off, it’s your job to remove it, or if leaves and growth are becoming unruly, you’ll need to trim them back. The same goes for removing fallen branches and keeping things generally tidy and in good repair.

A good guideline to follow is; if it’s within your reach, it’s your responsibility.

Major Garden Maintenance

In this case, ‘major’ tasks cover anything that requires professional attention, like tree lopping, and more thorough pruning and hedging. These are works that are usually not carried out regularly, and need specialist attention. As such, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to arrange for these types of maintenance tasks to be completed. If a tree is dying, diseased, or threatening to cause harm or damage to buildings or individuals, the landlord needs to arrange for tree removal.

Although the landlord is responsible for these, as a tenant, you should report any need for works to your landlord or rental agency to ensure they’re aware of the issue.

Why is Tree Maintenance Important?

Regardless of who is reasonably responsible for what in a rental home, maintaining trees on a property is incredibly important, and for more than just aesthetic reasons. When trees aren’t properly cared for, they have the potential to cause damage to properties, and harm to people.

Weak branches and diseased extremities can fall at any time, injuring anyone who may come in their path, while tree diseases can spread rapidly if left untreated, impacting surrounding vegetation and wildlife. Not only that, but when tree roots aren’t maintained adequately, they can interfere with underground plumbing and drainage systems.

Get Expert Help

Whether you’re a landlord needing professional assistance tending to trees on your property, or you’re a tenant in need of some tips on tree pruning, Jim’s can help you out. Contact Jim’s Trees today to find out more about our services, or have a look online at our handy garden guides.

Yucca trees are native to southern North America, which you might not have guessed judging by the amount of them in Australia.

Stemming from the Yucatan region of Mexico and well-established throughout Central America, the Yucca plant can withstand some pretty extreme conditions. Thanks to this, the adaptable tree can be found throughout Australia, from the sun-soaked and dry outback in summer to the cooler, wetter Victorian winter.

While their resilience may be great for the yucca, it’s also what makes this persistent plant pretty tricky to get rid of. If you’re ready to say goodbye to your yucca plants to make way for something new, then our Jim’s Trees experts have some advice to help you out!

Cut Back

The first step in removing a yucca plant is cutting it down to the stump. Using an axe or a saw, carefully cut away at the plant, ensuring that all of the clippings are properly disposed of to prevent the spread of seeds.

Dig Deep

Next up, it’s time to get digging. To ensure you can easily access the entire root system, you should aim to dig around a metre in diameter around the stump, as well as a minimum of one metre deep. Then, with a bit of force, you should be able to remove and dispose of the stump.

To help with this phase, some stump removal providers recommend stump poisoning. This involves drilling holes around the stump prior to removal, and soaking them in stump killer or potassium nitrate. This can take a few months to kick in, at which point, removing the stump should be less taxing.

Get To The Root

Now that the stump has been taken care of, the next step is yucca tree root removal. As its roots can be particularly prolific, and new shoots can stem from even small bits leftover, it’s imperative to get rid of any and all root remnants. In dry weather, apply herbicide to any root pieces- ideally one that contains glyphosate or triclopyr, as these have a broad performance spectrum. This step should be continued as needed until you are confident that there are no new shoots growing, around two to three months, before filling in the hole.

 

If you’d rather avoid using chemical products in your yard, you can also try to kill the roots by intentionally waterlogging them. This will prevent them from absorbing the oxygen they need to grow, killing them over time without the use of chemical products.

 

Call In The Experts

Yucca plants are fast-growing and very low maintenance, meaning it doesn’t take much for them to thrive. For the best chance at success in removing a yucca tree stump and its roots, enlisting the expert help of a stump removal service might be the best plan for you. For more information, or to speak to a member of our stump removal team, contact Jim’s Trees today.