Does anyone know what tree this is?

[PumpkinP]

I have a huge tree in my garden that blocks all sunlight after 1/2pm, it’s a council house and was here when I moved in. I do like the tree and ideally wouldn’t want it removed but as I said it takes away all the sun so I do want it trimmed down, just wondering if anyone knows what tree it is as I’m not really into gardening so have no idea, from looking online I believe it’s a conifer?

Leylandii? They grow quickly and can get out of control

It probably completely dries the soil out too, all around it. Not the most wildlife-friendly tree either unfortunately 🙁

You'd need a close up the leaves to identify it. Is it green all the year round? If it is a conifer, cutting back options are going to be limited because they don't generally reshoot from older wood.

It's not the right shape for a leylandii, unless it's one that has previously been cut to half height.

Looks like a conifer.

Can you take a shot from further back? And a close up of the leaves.

My neighbour has leylandii and they grow tall and very wide if not kept under control

Yep that’s what it’s like at the moment very tall and wide. Like I said it’s a council house so I won’t be paying big money to do anything to it as we won’t be here forever, I will see if I can get some more pics.

That’s the leaves and that is a picture from my upstairs window. So it can’t be trimmed down? Sorry I can’t get a better pic of the tree as the garden isn’t massive (around 30ft) and the tree is so tall!

That sort of conifer doesn't grow back from old wood, so if it is severely pruned it will look a mess and a lot of it will die.

A talented artistic tree surgeon would be able to thin it out properly and sympathetically, but they are few and far between.

Looks like I will just have to live with the shade then as my house backs directly onto another garden and due to being on a slope they would literally be able to see straight into my house/ garden.

Yes that's a leylandii that's been topped out. Email a reputable tree surgeon from your area attaching these pics and they will be able to advise you. I'm sure they'd be able to reduce it a bit.

From the second picture it definately looks like Leylandi. I would be digging out the roots and getting rid of it and planting a nicer flowering shrub that can be trimmed and will look good too.