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What's made this hedge brown?

Ding DongDing Dong Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hello gardeners

I've just moved into a house with this east-facing garden.  Is the hedge sunburnt?😎  Is there some illness here? And what can be done about it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited June 2018
    One of two things - either it's been cut back too hard into brown wood or it's suffering from one of the recent problems to infect and affect conifer hedges.   

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=132 

    Either way, it is highly improbable that the conifers will recover so you need to think about how to take them out and replace with a new hedge or fence.   They will have sucked all the goodness out of the soil so you'll also need to think about working in lots of organic matter to improve the soil before you plant anything else.   

    I would also advise discussing it with your neighbours as there may be an existing, adequate fence on their side and you don't want your  hedge renewal to disrupt it, especially if it's their's. 



    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
  • Ding DongDing Dong Posts: 3
    Many thanks, Obelixx!  Greatly appreciated.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Sorry it wasn't better news but, just think, if you do take it all out you may gain at least a metre of extra garden and could grow some climbing roses/clematis/honeysuckle along a fence which will be more colourful and even perfumed or else plant a mixed hedge that will be more interesting both for you and for wildlife.
    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
  • Ding DongDing Dong Posts: 3
    You're right about a new fence with plants being more interesting!  At the moment this hedge is in a rather sad state and we suspect it's been attacked too vigorously and maybe at the wrong time of year. 

    We'd already mentioned doing away with this.  Pity, because it's a great privacy screen, but just as you say, we could gain a fair bit of garden by replacing it with something narrower.  

    Thanks again for the input.👍
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