replacing a hedge gradually

I have a 6 foot hedge all around my corner plot house and would like to replace it with something nicer and a little more nature friendly, probably a mixed hedgerow.
I'm not sure the type of hedge but its the classic Glasgow council house hedge, evergreen with small leaves and needs cut way to much. Its very established - 50 years or more!

I thought about cutting one tree away at a time and putting in a replacement, but I'd still be left with the roots and I think the new plant would struggle.

Any ideas?

 

Hi Welcome to the Forum

So you have privet , it does create nesting sites also if its been growing 50 years , you would need to dig out the roots and also re-dig out the existing soil and put new compost/manure/ fertiliser to re-new the soil as I imagine it wont have much to offer for planting a new hedge.

 

Welcome to GC Claire. A mixed hedgerow is nature friendly but a nightmare to look after because the individual plants grow at different rates. It would have to be trimmed several times a year to keep it tidy and that will disturb birds nesting/breeding season which wouldn't be nature friendly.

 

So glad you are thinking hedge not panels. I have hedges and a very tiny fence a left over from the grandchildren may fall in the pond era. We have Privet very easy to grow and the birds love it.