NOT to want to chop down my leylandii?

[morningpaper]

OK OK I know it is a scourge etc.

I have a long garden and two old leylandii (60 footish) at the very back. They used to block the view of the council scrap yard which backed onto us.

Two years ago they erected four squillion houses on the old scrap yard. Including 4 along the back of our garden - with foundations TEN FEET from the leylandii.

Of course, the gardens there are only 10 feet long and nothing will grow. The leylandii branches touch the back of the houses.

One of the residents has now asked me to remove my leylandii.

What is the right thing to do?

and some pretty lilac

It will take YEARS

and I won't be able to let the children run naked in the garden if they are overlooked by 4 properties

they are out there ALL DAY

Privacy is a lot more than nice, it's really important.

the silver birch we planted has grown rather quickly in the past 6yrs and affords us lots of privacy in the summer (in the front)

neighbours can be a real pain, yet kind of unavoidable really unless you live in a cave. (though not in Spain where its like something out of the hills have eyes)

Well, it wont have grown 40 foot in 2 years. They bought the place as was. Why bother about it now?

If you planted them after then yes, I'd say cut them down. But, no, I dont think you need to do anything, apart from 'maintain' them.

Hmm, annoying for you but grim to live in the shadow of those trees. I was relieved to chop ours down, the ground was dead under it and nothing would grow nearby.

I don't know what I'd do tbh.

60 ft is rather big
I think you need to trim

Our neighbour planted a 10 foot silver birch in their front garden about 4 years ago. It's at least 30 foot now. Very pretty it is too. Doesnt afford much privacy though

yes silver birches are practically see-through

and no good in winter

I'd just trim them for now since they were there when the flats were built and then sold.
However, I'd look for an alternative such as native trees or evergreen shrubs which will offer privacy and block less light. Laurel grows fast, you could plant some in front of the trees and when its tall enough take out the leylandii?

Problem is, due to the moisture draining and acidic nature of leylandii - fuck all is going to grown within 20 foot of them anyway

Aint gonna work.

MP - say you are happy to maintain the trees, whilst maintaining your privacy. Leave it at that.

Why not see how much they are prepared to pay to remove them?

i think your idea of chopping them so they still block their upstairs view is fine, it affords them privacy too yet allows more light to get through, i think if you went to them with this theyll be glad youre seeing their point of view and rather relieved that its not going to esculate into a battle of wills....yet

my knowledge of trees is dismal.

privacy is not really important. How do you reckon most people live

FWIW I lived in a house and at the back were these 40 ft monsters. Their house was about 60 ft away from the trees - like yours, a long garden. I loved the house and thought I could get used to the trees, after 2.5 years and the trees getting taller (also just as the hedge laws were coming into effect) I'd had enough. We moved. Their house was also built on slightly higher ground and so added to more height. They didn't want to see our roof top!

Unless you live at the other end, and some people have to, it is really hard to function with these monsters. I'm please about the law on hedges and think that alternatives can provide adequate privacy.

VVVQV is that really true?
I ask as we have about 7 Leylandii in our garden which screen us from a very ugly 2 storey block of flats - was hoping to eventually get rid of the tress after growing tall hedging/shrubs to take their place in time...
SOrry to hijack MP.

IN the spot where my neighbour's leylandii were cut down, the new neighbours have improved the soil and have planted shrubs and bulbs which are doing fine.

we have planted an apple tree and some witchhazel fairly near where the leylandei was and they seem to be doing ok.

I love silver birch, they're so rustley and pretty and the branches look nice in winter too

It is true. Whilst leylandii are there - little else will be. S'why most folk dont like them

how to replant and replace
decent website content, if slightly home made looking here

leave them there...here's my similar thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2750/543062

...privacy and general pleasantness reduced by 24.79 per cent recently here...

save the trees!

It is very hard to find trees which offer as much privacy as leylandii though, esp deciduous or native trees...

Obviously if you cut them down first - it's not a problem (as much..)

oh I see what you mean. Yes, while leylandii are there things won't grow well round about

But what can you replace them with VVVQV? Thats the burning issue I think, if MP were to remove them what could go in their place to afford as much privacy?