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Do Leylandii give anything back?

BobFlannigonBobFlannigon Posts: 619
in Plants
We've a large Leylandii in our garden (about 4-5m tall).  It appears not to be growing much now.  On its rear-facing side (that gets little sun) the branches are sparse exposing a lot of trunk.  The front-facing side is in good condition and it's nice enough to look at.  I'm wondering whether to pull it down, we'll have a digger in for some building work in the near future that should have little trouble pulling out its root.

The question is... do they give anything back?  It feels like I could plant something that offers a bit more, particularly to nature.  I only rarely see Blue tits picking at the trunk, I've never spotted anything nesting in it, it doesn't produce any food, it hogs water from the plants around it and plunges everything behind it into shade, so what's it actually good for? 

 

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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    They make good mulch when they are shredded.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    If it's just one plant, I'd remove it.
    More complicated if it were a hedge giving privacy. 
    Devon.
  • Valley GardenerValley Gardener Posts: 2,851
    We had over a dozen taken down,there were no birds nesting in them,they blocked our view of the mountains,made the whole garden dark,and nothing else would grow, take advantage of the digger and get rid,would be my advise,I can't stand them,but I know one or two others on here like them if they are controlled!
    The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
  • ForTheBeesForTheBees Posts: 168
    Rip it out.  Even if it does 'give something back', there's undoubtedly a different tree or bush you can plant that would be far superior.
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    fidgetbones said:
    They make good mulch when they are shredded.
    :)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Another vote for getting rid.  You'll need to do a lot of soil improving once the roots are out and before you plant anything new as it will have robbed the soil of all nutrients and moisture.

    Have fun finding something attractive and wildlife friendly.
    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
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Our neighbour has three on our boundary. There are always lots of birds flitting in and out but I think it's a safe place to watch and hide rather than either food or a nest site. I would have thought something more interesting with fruit or flowers would be better as a resource for wildlife and as an outlook for you
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I cut down some cypress when I moved in and dried the logs and used them in my wood stove for quite a while. Years later, it's such a joy that they are not there. So I guess they are the gift that keeps on giving.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Obelixx said:


    Have fun finding something attractive and wildlife friendly.
    I vote for holly  :D

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Valley GardenerValley Gardener Posts: 2,851
    My vote goes to a Weeping Cotoneaster,nice compact growth,white blossom,and masses of red berries later,the blackbirds love them,oh yes and it's evergreen.Google some pics of it.
    The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
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