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Leylandii hedge removal

Mark57Mark57 Posts: 4
in Plants

My father wants to replace his Leylandii hedge which is about 8 feet tall and 21 feet long by about 3 feet six to four feet thick(!)

Recently the council resurfaced the pavement in front of the hedge, so we had to cut back a lot of greenery.  It is now an unsightly mess, with lots of brown. 

The plan is to replace it with a four to five foot privet hedge.


 

The photo below is from inside the garden. Beyond the existing privet there is a row of Mahonia, some Portuguese laurel and holly. The Leylandii hedge runs between that and the road.




A gardening company has offered to remove the hedge, but suggested that they would simply cut it back to the surface, and intersperse the potted privet around the roots.

Is that sensible? Should the roots be removed as far as possible, or can we just leave them to rot?

There is also a free-standing Leylandii tree nearer to the house; perhaps 6 or 8 feet from the house wall. It is clay soil. Is that a safe distance, or could it affect the house’s foundations. The tree had already been topped, but stands about 10 or 12 feet high.

We had hoped to achieve all this in a day, but I suspect that it might take a week…

Any answers gratefully received!

 

Thanks,

 

Mark

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I agree.  Get several quotes from qualified tree surgeons, not just gardening companies, for both the hedge and the one near the house.  They will have the correct knowledge, equipment and insurance to do the job properly and safely.

    In my experience, the roots on these things rot down fairly quickly once the tops are removed so, if you prefer, you could tackle them yourselves a bit at a time but if time is an issue, rather than budget, get the job done as the tree surgeons will also remove or chip all the trunks according to your preference.

    When you are ready to plant a new privet hedge, make sure you add very generous amounts of well-rotted garden compost and manure to the soil to replace lost nutrients and micro-organisms after all those years of being sucked dry by the conifers.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,066
    I think you might have a problem removing those roots.  It could affect the pavement and I suspect you would be responsible for any damage.  I've left the roots in on a number of large leylandii removed and have successfully grown plants and shrubs in the area after enriching the soil.
    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • Mark57Mark57 Posts: 4
    Thanks for the comments.  Very useful.  Yes,  the pavement has been resurfaced. 
    We will consult,  and decide what to do next. 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    Mark, I know mine was privet and not leylandii, but I had an 8m long, 3m high by 1.5m deep hedge removed and stumps ground out for £240 and it was done in half a day.
    Before:


    After a few weeks:

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Grinding the stumps out will not interfere with the pavement. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Mark57Mark57 Posts: 4
    Thanks for all the help and advice.  The job is done now.  I'm finally getting round to posting photos. 
  • Mark57Mark57 Posts: 4

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