I’m in a townhouse in Marrickville with a small front hedge of lilly pillies. With spring arriving, the growth seems to have doubled in the last fortnight. I’m unsure how frequently locals arrange hedge trimming in Sydney — is it seasonal, or should I stick to a monthly plan? I don’t want to overdo it and damage the plants, but the branches are already reaching the footpath. I also don’t know if the council has any rules about hedge height near the kerb. What’s a reasonable schedule people use here?

I had the same question when I moved into a terrace in Petersham — my lilly pillies went nuts once spring kicked in. What worked for me was booking hedge trimming services about every six to eight weeks through the warmer months, then backing off to a light tidy in winter when growth slows right down. If you’re unsure about height, Inner West Council has some notes on keeping hedges clear of the footpath, so it’s worth a quick look. I used A1 Gardening & Landscaping Sydney after a mate recommended them, and they gave me good advice on timing so I didn’t overcut. They were also clear on how to shape without harming new shoots, which helped a lot.