Dead Leylandii Tree - infill options?
richard_knights
Posts: 6
Hi,
Long-term reader, first-time poster here. And I need your help after making a rather regrettable decision please (I'm near to tears).
I recently moved into a new property that has some large leylandii that had overgrown and hung over the decking at the rear of the garden. In my misplaced enthusiasm, I took a hedge-trimmer to the trees and cut them back. I now understand that the remaining dry wooden twigs will remain as they are and it looks horrendous.
Moving forward, I see my options as:
1. Remove the old leylandii and plant new leylandii in their place and maintain them as they grow. I'd like to avoid this due to the years of being able to see the neighbouring property, and the costs.
2. Erect a higher (6ft) fence to cover up most of the brown. A fair option, but I quite liked the existing low fence and putting up a high fence would "exclude" the trees from the footprint of the garden, making it seem shorter.
3. Remove the dead wood and "Fill-in" the void with another plant / tree.
Unless anyone has any other suggestions or thoughts, I'd really appreciate any ideas as to the correct plant/tree/shrub I might use for Option 3 please. I hope there's something that would blend nicely and not look like I've just got a weird, mutated Leylandii...
Thanks in advance for any help you might offer this newbie gardener!
Richard x
Last edited: 19 June 2017 20:35:42
Posts
Difficult to tell from the photo but how much space is there between the trunks of the trees and the fence?
Hi,
Thank you so much for replying. It's 1.5m (5ft) from the fence to the trunks of the trees (see pic below)
I also just measured and a 6ft fence would only cover up half of the dead area...
Last edited: 19 June 2017 21:02:49
My only thought is that you didn't go far enough. Razing the damned things to the ground and planting something actually worthwhile seems like a far better idea.
Hi Steve, if it wasn't for the fact they block out a block of flats behind, I would have done that!
Surely there must be a better replacement, even if it is only a bamboo?
Well, I think there are 4 or 5 Leylandii there, and understand it costs about £400 per tree to remove, so £2k...
So a simpler solution may be to just (Option 3) to grow something up in place of the dead branches. Would bamboo work well with the leylandii sitting above? Alternatively, what about just planting new leylandii in the gap between the fence posts and the existing trunks? Or a Yew hedge?
I'm only a novice at gardening, so this is not advice ? but I think bamboo would look really nice in the gap, and the lighter green of their leaves would make a nice contrast with the darker shade of the Leylandii. ☺
Hi. These trees are controversial- but I have some at the back of my garden and without them my privacy would be ruined. Firstly, the quote for removal seems very overpriced - I had extensive work for half that.
I recommend a tree surgeon assesses your trees (£ well spent). The bottom few feet where there is dead/brown is can be cleaned up to reveal more trunk and open ground. At this point you could prepare the ground for something in front to cover the gap. The earth will likely be dry and depleted but with enriching you may be able to grow a hedge. I agree that bamboo might be suitable but many spread wildly so beware.
Thanks Rach,
i think you're right, i'll get a tree surgeon in to assess before I start spending huge figures. I counted them last night and unfortunately there are 8 of the trees! So removal may still be a significant cost. I halve though last night about just growing a load of ivy or clematis up it - maybe even removing all the branches and using the bare wood structure as a host for a wall of Ivy...my lack of knowledge means I may have some ill-informed ideas...
all i know is that removing them completely and starting again is not an option as I don't want 10years of seeing my neighbours! (Unless I bough fully-grown trees to replace...?)
Think an expert assessment is the way forward - might even be free!?
Climbers don't usually satisfy as you will still see dead bits and may not thrive in the competition for light and nutrition.
I hope you can find a solution.