Will my Fir Trees fill out to a Tidy Hedge?

Discussion in 'Garden Projects and DIY' started by MostlyVegsSouthCotswolds, Apr 9, 2019.

  1. MostlyVegsSouthCotswolds

    MostlyVegsSouthCotswolds Gardener

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    Can my short row of Fir Trees be cut back to encourage them to form a narrow hedge, or is that not going to realistically happen in the space of a year or two?

    As it stands, they’re ugly: straggly and about 5ft wide.

    Can I cut them back to approx 1ft or so width from the Trunk and have them grow into a nice thick Hedge; or would I be better to not waste my time and simply dig them up?
    20190409_122223a.jpg 20190409_122350a.jpg
    I lopped the top off them last autumn, about 3-4months ago, and they're now about 8ft tall (I took about 4ft or so off). I thought doing so might encourage them to 'fill out' a bit, as well as avoiding having them taller than I can manage myself; but possibly I was mistaken as they look no different (apart from being a bit shorter).

    I've got more than enough DIY on my hands having moved house fairly recently and I don't want to make work for myself removing them if they can be nice, while by the same token, if they’ll never be what I want them to be I'll have them gone now and gain extra space by putting my re-erected Shed and its Base that much closer to the fence.

    NB: tip. I've found a 24Tooth Wood bit in an Angle Grinder everso handy for digging out Tree Roots; exercise appropriate caution of course. I took out a Leylandii at our previous home.
     
  2. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

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    No MostlyVegsSouthCo your hedge won’t fill out or improve :) Sorry.
    I would replace with something else.
    Yes, they will grow well from the top but not from the side now:)
     
  3. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

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    If you cut them back to 1ft from the trunks you will probably be left with brown branches, I think I can see some in your pictures. Unfortunately this type of conifer doesn't replace the branches with new growth, so they are best removed. :)
     
  4. MostlyVegsSouthCotswolds

    MostlyVegsSouthCotswolds Gardener

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    Thanks Verdun and Sheal. They'll not be standing much longer.
     
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    • MostlyVegsSouthCotswolds

      MostlyVegsSouthCotswolds Gardener

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      Looking better already, thanks again!
       

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      • Verdun

        Verdun Passionate gardener

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        For sure...now you can plant something you really want there :)
         
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