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?

"f you did have them cut back (at their request) and it went on to cause subsidence, the landlord/council could try to blame you for the damage."

Are you sure? I thought that could only be an issue if new trees were planted there. Even then it is unlikely within relevant time frames - normal trees grow very slowly compared to Leilandii! Besides, MP's prefered solution does not involve killing the trees.

Hmm reading the thread title I was going to say "cut them down lower you selfish bugger"

BUT the houses were bought with the Leylandi already there so you are quite within your rights morally to leave them there.

Sorry not good with sizes so I really dont know how tall 60ft is...are they tree shaped or hedge shaped...could you cut a bit off the top to look willing but say "sorry I will trim x amount off but am not removing them as we want to retain our privacy"

60 feet is pretty huge. About the height of two double busses. And, as trees go, they are petty charmless.

No, I'm not sure! It's probably bollocks. I just think that it's worth checking with the owner of the property as well as the tennants before you take any action.

Yeah I know they are charmless...I hate any conifer with a passion foul things.

I really dont see why MP should be spending lots of time on money on a garden she is happy with to placate people who could see the trees when they purchased their homes. As they are SO tall I would say you could trim them down quite a bit and still retain your privacy...personally this is the route I would take. My neighbours have hideous conifers on their boundry line...we just put a fence in front of them and they trim the tops once a year.

If they cant grow grass they could have decking, shingle, paving plenty of design options for a garden which dont involve grass....if they need greenery they could always buy astro turf

I don't think MP is going to spend time and money on it though.

Maybe consider getting a quote, for removing the trees, building a wall and landscaping (as is only fair if you are removing, you should have something to replace), take it to show them and ask how much they would be willin gto cover (in theory of course).

Say you think you should get a neutral contractor in to so the work as if something went wrong you would not feel right taking action against their evil dog friends.

Maybe when they see the real cost, it will scare them enough to not mention it again.

Be very careful lopping the tops off these trees. My neighbours brother did this to a leylandii hedge between him and his neighbour and the whole hedge died. I certainly wouldn't let someone's "mate" do it. I would tell them that you would consider letting a professional tree surgeon trim them but as it was their concern and the trees were there when they moved in you would expect them to cover a good proportion if not all the cost. I suspect when they realise how much this is going to cost they may go off the idea! Just getting the trimmings removed will be quite expensive.

Yeah go the professional route at 60ft you dont really want someones idiot amateur mate wielding a saw about at that height!!

Actually, Blu's very sensible post has changed my mind

(I rarely change my mind )

If it's social housing then they probably have been dumped in these rabbit hutches with little choice. Take the offer of helping to pay from all of them. Tell them that you'd still like to preserve some privacy and will be putting something there instead but it will not be as obtrusive and will allow plenty of light, and that if they help with that too - they can have a say in what you plant

Sorted

Silver Birch trees are very lovely, and, will let enough light through, without allowing clear sight down your garden. They'll be able to see, but, not to any great extent - especially withthe way that the branches rock in the slightest breeze.

Both my side neighbours can see into my garden from their upstairs windows. But if my children want to be naked in the garden I don't let this worry me. I am really in a quandry on this one TBH.

But your garden is 40ft wide and there are 4 houses across that width? So each house only 10ft?

MP, I would be VERY careful about getting out the chainsaws.If you remove mature trees, the roots left underground usually contract and leave gaps in the surrounding soil, causing the surface of the ground to move (known as 'heave'). This is NOT good news for buildings close by! If you cut them down, or they died after severe pruning, who would be liable if the houses started to develop problems? They may have asked for it to be done, but YOU would have employed the tree surgeon, and they are on YOUR land! Sorry to be the Voice Of Doom, but I know how unreasonable people can be when property is involved! I would get the nearest people to sign a disclaimer, get a very well qualified tree surgeon, and just remove the tops.

Would get legal adviceb on this as it's not your fault that the houses were built so close to your trees - they got planning permission for this.

Also agree with dragon30 on the root problem.

I'd leave them if possible as they were established before the houses were built.

yes, blu she talks great sense. And is oh so calm.

Elders and Buddleias grow very fast indeed. I am forever trimming them down. They attract wildlife and butterflies (and you can make cordial from the first)

Google for advice or go to your Citizens Advice Bureau for the leylandii

A funny thing somebody did: They put a huge sail at the end of the garden to protect their privacy and nobody could object as it was just fabric.

Good luck

You said you've a long back garden so they won't be peering in the kitchen windows and 60 ft is very high ! The nice thing to do would be to at least prune them a bit . Could you put up a fence (ask them to contribute ) and plant some trees as well ? Beech hegdes are lovely and grow quickly. By the way, aren't magnolias evergreen ?

Mommy2times This thread is 8 years old!!!!

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Hideous trees, get rid of the monstrosities and stop inflicting them on all your poor neighbours.

Haha this is a zombie

I stand by it though, I hate leylandii, I hope they got chopped down

I feel sorry for the people whose gardens are in shade and darkness because of your trees. Just because the trees were there first doesn't mean you shouldn't show some consideration to your neighbours. Times change, life moves on. I think your suggestion of trimming them down is a good idea.

Feel like an idiot now for not spotting that it's a zombie thread

What happened to the trees??! I want to know.

My DH chopped down half a dozen HUGE Leylandiis (I mean giant, towering trees with huge trunks) in our garden. And nothing bad happened.