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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Help with garden. Tree disaster

11 replies

TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER · 11/05/2019 10:24

I moved house over the winter and now have a small garden with conifers either side. I like the fact they give privacy from my neighbours. And I like having the greenery.
However, the person who lived here before me totally butchered them. Do I have any other option than cutting them down? It looks so ugly.

Help with garden. Tree disaster
Help with garden. Tree disaster
Help with garden. Tree disaster
OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 11/05/2019 10:26

I’d level them off to make them even at the top and then maybe grow something against the bottom of them? Clematis?

AFistfulofDolores1 · 11/05/2019 10:26

I'd be starting again. Sorry!

ohhiyouitsme · 11/05/2019 10:27

But they'll grown back quite quickly I think. I'd leave them for a year, then decide.

squashyhat · 11/05/2019 10:31

They look like leylandii which never grow back if they have been cut back to bare wood. Horrible things. I would get them out and replant with a mixed hedge. It will take some time but much better for wildlife.

TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER · 11/05/2019 10:32

Thank you! Quick responses.
My Dad suggested levelling the tops then giving them until next year to see if they grow back.
I want to just get rid and start again.
I can’t stand the bare trunk / lollipop look.
I might look at getting some clematis for the bottom then see how that goes.

OP posts:
TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER · 11/05/2019 10:35

squashyhat how do I know the difference between conifer and leylandii? I’m an absolute novice gardener having never had one before,
Tbh, I’ve lived here since September and they’ve been like that since then. I had been expecting some growth in spring so maybe they are Leyllandi.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 11/05/2019 10:38

Leyllandi grow up and out really quickly. We have conifers and next door have leyllandi. Theirs are much thicker and grow much taller than ours and they have to cut them back and cut the tops off to keep them under control

sackrifice · 11/05/2019 10:39

They won't grown back. As evidenced by the lack of grow back.

I'd never have leylandii unless i had acres and acres of space. And even then there are hundreds of other nicer things to have.

TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER · 11/05/2019 10:44

Some googling just now has agreed that they won’t grow back now they’ve been cut back that far. I did want to try and keep them but think I’m going to get rid then look at something else for that space.
I shouldn’t lose too much privacy as next door each side have them too.

OP posts:
Beebumble2 · 11/05/2019 10:51

We cut down a row of leylandi and left 4ft stumps. We then attached trellis horizontally to the stumps and now grow clematis and climbing roses up them.

ohhiyouitsme · 11/05/2019 13:08

Well, if they're not growing back and won't grow back, get rid of them. Leylandi (sp?) are a nightmare anyway.

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