Why some of my Lilly Pilly are not growing?

[KhurramJamshed]

I have planted more around 10 Lilly Pilly Backyard Bliss variety last year in Sept. The purpose was to establish a nice hedge using Lilly Pilly.

My question is related to the growth, they all are not equally responding to growth.  Now i can expect some difference between them, but if you notice the middle ones are quite short whereas side one grew taller.

 They all have been bought from a same place and planted between 2-3 days of a difference. 

At the start of a spring i have applied yates slow release fertilizer. And have been giving seasol + powerfeed once a month. 

Any advice would be really appreciated. 

Thanks.

[EricL]

Hello @KhurramJamshed 

Thank you for sharing such detailed information about your Lilly Pilly hedge. It’s great to hear that you’ve been so diligent with their care, including feeding and fertilizing. Uneven growth in hedges like yours can indeed happen, and while planting distance can sometimes play a role, there are a few other factors to consider before deciding whether to remove any plants.

Firstly, the middle ones might be shorter because they’re competing more intensely for light, water, or nutrients, especially if they are shaded by the taller plants on the sides. Lilly Pilly "Backyard Bliss" is hardy, but they do appreciate consistent access to sunlight and airflow. Consider pruning the taller ones slightly to give the smaller ones a chance to catch up. A pair of sharp hedge shears, such as those available at Bunnings, can help you shape the hedge evenly while encouraging new growth.

Additionally, if the middle plants appear crowded, you might gently loosen the soil around them to reduce compaction and improve root aeration. The store stocks garden forks and cultivators that would be perfect for this task. Be mindful of not disturbing their roots too much.

If you suspect spacing might be an issue, removing one or two of the more stunted plants could indeed help the others grow better. However, it’s a good idea to monitor them for a little longer before making that decision, especially since you’ve been feeding and caring for them consistently. Spring growth can be slower for some plants initially, and they might still catch up.

Lastly, mulching around the base of your plants with a product like sugarcane mulch from the store can help retain moisture and suppress weeds, giving all of your plants a fair chance to thrive. I’d also recommend keeping up with Seasol and PowerFeed, as they’re excellent for promoting root development and overall plant health. With a bit of patience and care, your hedge should fill out beautifully!

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[mich1972]

Good morning @KhurramJamshed  Your hedge looks great and healthy. I personally love the variety Backyard Bliss. Eric has given you great advice. May I ask as it’s hard to see, what’s on the soil ? Looks like white pebbles ? If so , maybe the water and nutrients are not reaching the root system enough. Just a thought.