what can i do with these trees!

[LustingAfterMarkDarcy]

Up until a few weeks ago we had really difficult neighbours. They had teenage sons who had a trampoline up against our fence were out all hours ect. The children couldn't play out without a constant audience saying nasty things and throwin stuff. They broke our playhouse throwing rocks over along with lots of plants ect

So bit of background as their garden is behind ours but ours runs long if u see what I mean they could overlook us wherever we were so we bought 9 small coniffer type trees with the aim of blocking the overlooking fence. They are currently about 2ft and in the house. My neighbours have now moved! What can I do with all these trees. Should I plant them anyway and keep them small dependant on .new neighbours but that would take up my whole border which I was disappointed about. What can I do with the trees?X

Find out what the trees are first before you plant them.
They could be dwarf specimens, or grow to 60 foot within a few years.

Well if they're lleylandi conifers I'd bin them. They grow to a million feet high!!! Before you blink!! :o

If they're Leylandii and if you still want a hedge, then leylandii can make an attractive hedge but needs lots of management in the early years to ensure that they grow densely and don't get bare near the bottom. You need to keep trimming off the top and letting the height go up a wee bit every year.

My parents' neighbours have a hedge like that and it only needs trimming twice a year.

They are golden crest. A hedge may be a good idea if they don't grow huge but is lose half my border. Hmm decisions x

Golden crest can grown to up to 10 metres so only plant them if you have the time to keep them trimmed or want a very high hedge. They are a fast growing connifer and so you will need to spend alot of time pruning and shaping them.

Having spent several hundred punds this year removing over grown connifers i would bin them.

Ah thats handy to know thank you, i may well put them into the front borders. I am out in the garden alot so will spend the time pruning ect but dont really want the whole border being taken over in the back. If i keep them in shape i imagine they would look nice along the front of the house, behind the fence. x

If you are going to make them in to a hedge, then snip the top of when it's only got to about half the height you want it to be. Then every time you trim it (probably twice a year) let it get a wee bit higher. That way you keep it dense and in control.

"snip the top off "

:) Thanks, i would like to keep them at the fence height so will do this once their out x

They will reach 20m high and 5m wide eventually if left unpruned. Remember that all conifers will leach moisture from the soil around them so don't plant them next to your lawn or a flower border.

Congratulations on losing the scummy neighbours and I hope the new ones are a big improvement.

ah thanks for the tip i didnt know that, at the minute the front is full of foxgloves and allysum(sp? sorry) so best not do that. Hmm am pondering again now. Thanks waitingforme its been a long few years of reporting, back and to, adjusting what we do in the garden and swearing. So im seriously hoping for some nice quiet like minded neighbours this time or i may have to move :(

I think i'd just give the conifers away to be honest. They're not attractive plants, so don't use them just for the sake of it. Your front garden with foxgloves and alliums sounds much prettier than a conifer hedged one!

Yeah im beginning to wonder, im sure we will sort something out!