Tree experts: Taking out conifers and replacing with native trees

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We've just bought a fifties semi with quite a good front and back garden... the front hedge line on the road has three big conifers and I'm ITCHING to get them taken out as soon as we can when we get in in August. (Obviously sale might not go through but for various reasons need to get cracking as soon as it does).(also just fantasising about garden somewhat trying to harness the energy.)

I'd like to replace them with what I can only describe as a sort of native British isles rough hedge (we're in Northern Ireland but I think most of the native Irish trees are similar to Great Britain ones). So far I've thought of some combination of a Rowan tree, a blackthorn, some hawthorn and a dog rose.

Obviously in my mind this is a charming native melange to stare at from the sitting room window but really is it just going to look like chaos? It's about four metres and there's a wooden fence as well.

Also, I get the conifers cut down and the stumps ground out, but how do I help the soil recover? Tons of manure and compost and a layer of bark chippings to take it through August to spring? Would the soil be good enough to plant then?

I should say one of the reasons I am in a hurry is that I hope that we have this house for years and years, but there's a chance that in say 18months-2 years we might have to move for work and rent it out for a few years. So I want to have something lovely, but hardy that can survive (would def get gardening service to come in and prune/tidy up once or twice a year so that it didn't get out of hand).

What do you think??

Bump!

Bump again! Someone must know about conifer removal?

A gardening service or tree surgeon shoul be able to remove it. Improve the ground afterwards.

Google British native hedging for sale and a lot of the companies give good advice on planting.

I think the fuschia looks lovely as a hedge.

Kind of depends if you want a windbreak, looks or privacy.

It won't look tidy though....probably.

And I think Autumn is the time to get bare root trees, they then establish over the winter. Much cheaper than container grown. There may well be a nursery near you that specialises in trees and hedging.

I agree. Get tree surgeons to remove and stump grind and then improve the soil.

Plant bare root hedging in the autumn pr winter - it's never really cold in NI so you can do it anytime. Cut back plants by about one third in height if they are Tall and splndly.

Surround plants with bark chips and feed and water well for first season. Trim hedge very lightly every few weeks to keep bushy - just pinch out the growing tips.

Don't put a tree in a hedge it won't be happy. They need a circle of a meter around the trunk clear of other plants, especially grass.

If you are going to let out the house then you need to make the garden low maintenance . Even if you hire a company to maintain it they are always pretty rubbish.

Are you on the coast or Inland ? It affects what plants do best.

Yes definitely getting tree surgeons to do it! And grind stumps out. Going to get it done in August hopefully then loads of manure and compost and chippings then plant bare root in November hopefully.

I'm about a mile inland off belfast lough, very well sheltered though.

That's great information about the trees not working hmm. I didn't know that!

Going to get some plants from treesbypost who brilliantly deliver to NI - going to get some hawthorn, a cherry plum and a blackthorn and then buy a really beautiful pale shade of dog rose from David Austin. I might try the Kashmir Rowan or hubehensis on its own then. Any other advice welcome!

The neighbours may hate me as they are all uber trimmed v suburbia. Indeed my father is horrified and solemnly told me to just get a privet.

I do love fuschias when they're all wild and gorgeous like in the hedges in cork but here it was such a ubiquitous feature of my childhood that I'm a bit off them for now.

I know you're right Kr1s about having to have low maintenance. It's just it's the first time I've been let out of a city garden and I want to PLANT THINGS! I might have access to an allotment which would be great as I can unleash my need to grow flowers and things. Also I have kids and want them to be able to run around the back garden with a football without shrieking to get off he flowerbeds etc.

So glad you're getting rid of the conifers! I've just moved to a house with massive conifers and beech at the end of the back garden - urrgh!

Would be interested in the quotes you get for removal!

I like those pleached hornbeam trees as a hedge, but may have to wait several years for this to happen!

I am having 4 hideous conifers removed next week and I'm so excited about what I'm going to plant in all that space . I'm holding myself back from going to the nursery just yet.