Is this Leylandii?

We’ve inherited a very large hedge growing along the back of our property, I’m assuming it’s Leylandii? It’s quite huge and overwhelming and casts a lot of shade. Is there a way for a tree surgeon to remove height without completely killing it at this point? It does provide a lot of privacy, without it we would be severely overlooked, however I’m concerned about it getting completely out of hand if left alone. Thank you.

 

I'm not totally sure if it is leylandii but really that is irrelevant.
To me, it's a pity that it has been allowed to go bare at the base, it could easily be cut off at the top and turned into a hedge but the bare base will alway look bad.

 

I’m thinking to plant some ornamental shrubs at the front to cover the bare bases, which I agree, are not overly attractive.

Is it really irrelevant if they are Leylandii? I have read some horror stories about them, hence my concern. Mind you, this is not coming from any first hand knowledge nor experience.

 

The problem is that these conifers are sucking every drop of moisture from the area in front of those bare trunks.The ground will be solid with conifer roots.
Virtually nothing will grow in these conditions.

 

I see...so I’m stuffed?

 

Well, I know of leylandii that has formed a really nice high hedge, but you need to clip pretty much from year one, let it get away from you and it then becomes a problem.
So, personally I dont think covering the bare stems is that viable due to what Silver Surfer has said.

Maybe someone can come up wiuth something that might do the job, but establishment will not be easy.
The top growth would cut back easily, just dont go into brown wood, wait till spring.

 

I think if they were mine I would be very tempted to cut them down to about 3 m.
Then get a machine in to rock the stump and pull them out root and all.
Leaving the trunk in gives leverage to help wobble the root ball and get it all out.

Add masses of compost, manure, leaf mould to the whole area and start again...with plants of your choosing.
Maybe putting up a fence to give you privacy.

The only conifers I know that grow back after being trimmed are Thuya.
Thuya occidentalis Smaragd is a super neat one....but is slow.

thuya occidentalis smaragd - Google Search

 

Oh Dear. Silver Surfer, I feel that we had become friends over the years. Never cmind, we both share a great passion for plants.

If I may. First and formost. Trees shout out at me. ''LIFE'' Without trees this planet probably might resemble Mars. Not that chocolate bar but the desolate planet. Whether we be gardeners or just an ordinary member of the humanity of planet earth. Trees are so important to our well being.

Sadly the conifer best known as. Leylandii has become synonymouse wit a rapid growing tree that has outgrown it's usefulness. Imagine a yearly calendar. Winter, snow covered ground, frosts and all of that. Spring. Wowee, snow and slush gone. Hey! what's that peeping through the soil. Plants sudenly come to life and our seasonal world has awakened from it's winter sleep.

However, above ground. Our woodlands, back gardens etc, our trees and shrubs have also woken up. Did you notice. Throughout thos dark cold days, despite our tree standing out there like skeletons. Branches now affording no home or protection for our native birdlife. Ah'ha, a conifer hedge, even a leylandii. This chappie or lassie has ptovided us with, alround yearly greenery. Yes it has blocked out noesy neighbours. So why the dislike. As those cheeky criters on TV might say. Zimbles'.

Even experienced gardeners and yes, scientist, so often plant trees and shrubs and then tend to forget them. Tree or shrub grows on and then. Out comes the chain saw. So sad.

Conifers are an interesting study, but perhaps to suffice here. Most conifers, especially those planted in gardens. They do need to be kept in check. Most are renoun to be rapid height growers. One the growing point is cut. It will not send out a new shoot. What will happen is. Growth below the cut will branch out. What perhaps might have been a slender tree, will soon become a massive spread. Given time the bare trunks will begin to sprout new growth. Sad to say though. I look out of my kitchen window and I see a stand of Letlandii that has been cut back and now. It's a stand of grey dead tree trunks.

 

Give me shineys beautiful mixed border any day over a row of bare conifer trunks.
It will be full of wildlife ....butterflies, birds and bees.
A joy to look at in all seasons.

I love conifers....but in the right situation...where they can grow naturally to full height.
Where they are not blocking the sunlight and sky
ie not a tiny city back garden...trimmed to look bare and ugly.
But that is just my personal feelings.....maybe other will think these conifers beautiful.

 

Totally agree with @shiney and @Silver surfer . We have (inherited) a pretty large Leylandii hedge (pain in the backside to keep trimmed) and various other conifers. I have removed quite a few conifers over the years (my Discovery never was quite the same after using her to haul out the stumps). I would get rid of the Leylandii hedge but it would be 1 hell of a job to do so and the resulting mess would be some task to fix so it reluctantly stays.
I have kept a few conifers and really love my Cedar Atlantica Glauca but I have a huge garden which can accommodate large trees. The below would look dreadful heavily pruned.





There are so many other shrubs and trees to choose from other than the thug type conifers which are really only suitable for big gardens unless you are fastidious in keeping them trimmed. We also have Leylandii on the road to stop people going on the grass verge. Again they do a job but do I like them? hell NO and they take a good day to clip twice a year. I think they should only be sold with a warning of just how big they grow and how fast. I also have a large Beech hedge planted I suspect at the same time as the hellish Leylandii 1. It is great, looks really nice in summer, only looses it leaves just before the new ones appear AND unlike Leylandii can be hard pruned if left to get out of control without it then looking like an eyesore for ever more. There is a street in St Andrews whereby the majority of the houses have had Lelandii planted on the roadside of their gardens. Every 1 has had to be hacked back as to not encroach on the footpath and look absolutely terrible. The Leylandii really spoil a street with seriously expensive and attractive houses on it. If only people would be a little more patient for their "privacy" and plant slower growing varieties of hedging plants which behave and don't turn into nightmares.

 

I’m thinking I can clean up the trunks to make them look neater, add in a lot of organic matter, and grow some tough plants that can grow in dry shade.

I think topping the height with the bare bases might look odd...perhaps thinning out some of the branches up in the canopy might help bring in light.

 

Could I politely suggest you try digging under the trees before you go and spend either time money or effort on improving the area. You will be lucky to even get a garden fork in the ground. Unless you have been weeding under the trees even weeds don't appear to have grown there. If you removed about 1/2 of the remaining branches there would still be a rain shadow and I honestly doubt it would make much difference. Annoying as it may be, other plants just won't survive the competition from the large Leylandii. I could send you a shed load of Vinca but even that would be doing well to accept the area and grow.