Precision Shaping
A Good Hedge Is the First Thing People Notice
That sharp, defined look where every line is level and every edge is clean. It's the single biggest visual difference between a garden that's managed and one that isn't.
What You Get
Professional Hedge Trimming that gets results
Hedge trimming is precision shaping timed to each species' growth cycle, maintaining dense foliage, clean lines, and the structural form that defines a well-kept garden. It's not just a cosmetic trim. The timing, technique, and frequency of hedge work directly determines whether your hedges stay thick and healthy or go leggy and sparse. As part of our monthly garden care program, hedge trimming is included in every scheduled visit, adjusted for seasonal growth rates. For new clients, our Initial Clean Up (ICU) often includes reshaping overgrown hedges to establish the baseline we then maintain month after month.
Precision trimming for all hedge types and sizes
Seasonal timing for optimal plant health
Straight edges and level tops guaranteed
Removal of all clippings and debris
Advice on hedge care and maintenance
Formal and informal shaping options
Why It Matters
Why do some hedges look impeccable while others look patchy and thin?
I can walk down any street in Kew or Canterbury and tell you which hedges are trimmed monthly and which get done once a year. The monthly ones are dense right to the base, a solid wall of foliage you can't see through. The annual ones are leggy, with long bare stems and leaves only at the tips. Once a hedge has gone sparse in the interior, it's extremely difficult, sometimes impossible, to bring that density back. That's not something you can fix with a harder cut. In fact, cutting hard into bare wood often makes it worse.
Different hedge species have different growth habits and timing requirements. Murraya responds to frequent light trimming throughout the warmer months. Photinia needs careful timing to manage its red new growth. English box is slow and forgiving but still benefits from regular attention. Getting the timing and technique wrong doesn't just affect appearance. It can stress the plant and make it vulnerable to pest and disease attack.
In Melbourne's eastern suburbs, hedges are a defining feature of most established gardens. They provide privacy screening, wind protection, and strong structural lines. Keeping them in proper form is one of the most visible indicators of a well-maintained property.
Our Process
How it works
Assessment
We evaluate hedge type, condition, and your desired outcome.
Preparation
Area cleared and equipment set up for efficient work.
Precision Trimming
Careful shaping using professional tools and techniques.
Cleanup
All debris removed, leaving your garden spotless.
Why Choose Us
Why homeowners trust ABS
String Lines, Not Guesswork
We use string lines and levelling for genuinely straight tops and plumb sides. The difference is obvious from the street.
We Know Your Hedge Species
Murraya, photinia, lilly pilly, pittosporum, English box, each has its own growth habit and timing. We adjust accordingly.
Density Recovery Specialists
If your hedges have gone sparse inside from infrequent trimming, we know how to coax the interior growth back over successive visits.
Monthly During Growing Season
Hedges grow fastest October through March. We trim at every visit during this period to keep lines sharp and foliage dense.
Boundary and Screening Focus
Many of our clients rely on hedges for privacy. We maintain them for maximum screening, dense from ground to top, not just tidy on the surface.
Sharp Blades, Clean Cuts
Blunt trimmers crush stems and leave brown tips. Our equipment is sharpened regularly for clean cuts that heal quickly.
Client Stories
What our clients say
"We've used Anthony and his team for several projects over many years – from a large scale re-design and remodelling and replanting, to everyday garden care and maintenance. His service is great and we're very happy to recommend him."
Andrew & Caroline
Surrey Hills
"I have been impressed by the high quality of your work, your friendly and very prompt service and your reliability… I would give you and your workers a star rating of 5 out of 5."
Jill
Hawthorn East
"We were attracted not only to the house but also to a small but special garden with many unusual plants… we have been very happy to have Anthony and Sam keeping a watchful eye and giving the garden whatever TLC is needed. They are reliable and we have confidence in the care they take."
Sue
Kew
"Anthony and his team are a pleasure to have around. They are all absolute gentlemen and they do a wonderful job. Reliable and diligent."
Suzie
Malvern
"ABS Horticulture have been caring for our townhouse garden for many years… We have introduced some of our friends to ABS and they too have expressed satisfaction with ABS capable design and maintenance work."
Gilbert
Glen Iris
"The ABS team have looked after our garden for the last two and a half years. They have helped keep the old girl under control and the transformation of the back garden has been amazing."
Anita
Kooyong
"We are completely satisfied with the work done by Abs. We have a large yard with a huge gum that drops constant litter across our garden. Sam and Anthony are incredibly professional and nice…and they care about the end result!! Always discrete and always leave the property in impeccable condition. We have a monthly maintenance which has reinvented our garden! No need to worry about the right time to fertilise or prune, just sit back and enjoy!"
Donagh
Melbourne
"Very happy with these guys. After a year or so of having them look after my place I wanted to revamp my garden completely, they chose the best plants and flowers for the area, their attention to detail is superb and my place looks amazing!"
Pip
Melbourne
"Anthony and Sam have done a great job maintaining and improving my garden over the past couple of years. Highly recommended."
Sue
Melbourne
"ABS Horticulture has been looking after our garden for over 10 years. In that time, Anthony's team have proven to be reliable, skilled and prompt with their services. The staff are always polite and their workmanship is top notch, whether it is lawn care, pruning, or shaping our numerous bay trees and hedges. I love coming home from work on the day ABS have serviced our garden, it always looks great."
Tom
Elsternwick
Helpful Resources
More About Hedge Trimming
How Much Does Garden Maintenance Cost in Melbourne? (2026 Pricing Guide)
Transparent pricing guide for garden maintenance services in Melbourne. Understand what affects costs, what services include, and how to budget for professional garden care.
What Does a Garden Maintenance Service Include? (Complete Breakdown)
Complete breakdown of what professional garden maintenance services include. Understand exactly what tasks are performed and what results you can expect.
How Often Should Garden Maintenance Be Done? (Monthly vs Fortnightly)
Monthly garden maintenance suits most established Melbourne gardens. Here's how to decide between monthly and fortnightly based on your garden type, plants, and seasons.
Monthly Care
What to expect as a client
All hedges assessed at each visit and trimmed according to their species-specific growth cycle and seasonal timing.
Straight, level cuts using professional-grade equipment, with no wavy tops or uneven sides.
Gradual reshaping over successive visits for hedges that have grown out of form, avoiding the shock of a single hard cut.
All clippings collected from garden beds, lawns, and paths, with no debris left behind in your garden.
Monitoring for common hedge pests like psyllids, scale, and mites, with treatment recommendations if detected.
Ongoing vs One-Off
Hedges trimmed monthly hold their form, while hedges trimmed yearly lose it
We took on a property in Balwyn a while back with a long run of murraya hedging along the front boundary. The previous gardener had been trimming it once in autumn, one big annual cut. The hedges looked reasonable from a distance, but up close they were hollow inside, with bare woody stems and all the foliage pushed to the outer edges. It took us about eight months of regular monthly trimming to coax new growth back into the interior and restore real density.
That's the fundamental issue with annual hedge work. During the growing season, a single cut means months of unchecked growth pushing outward and upward, leaving the interior bare. Monthly trimming during active growth maintains clean lines and encourages the dense inner growth that makes hedges effective screens. It also keeps hedges at a manageable size, and regular trimming is less work per visit, better for the plant, and produces a dramatically better result over time.
The monthly difference
One-off care
Monthly program
Transparent Pricing
Simple, fair pricing, no surprises
Our hedge trimming service is priced based on the scope of work. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote tailored to your garden.
Free
Initial Quote
No obligation site visit
Fair
Transparent Pricing
Clear quotes, no hidden fees
Flexible
Payment Options
Bank transfer, easy & convenient
Get Started
Ready to transform your garden?
Book a free 15-minute call. We'll discuss your hedge trimming needs, answer your questions, and provide a no-obligation quote.
No pressure. No obligation. Just a conversation about your garden.