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Replace Garden Hedge
IHateWeeding
Posts: 49
Hello,
We have an existing Conifer hedge that's out of control. For example, it's growing over the footpath and causing the meter high Garden wall to crack. The hedge is planted up close to the wall. While we dislike the hedge we want to retain the great privacy that it gives us.
The hedge is in our front garden so we would have to go through planning to add in a 2-meter high fence.
My thinking is to cut the front off the hedge back and start to plant in front of it. Obviously, we will have to go through a pain point before we can finally cut out the conifers altogether. The hedge is 30 Meters long and the new hedge plants would be West and South West facing.
Having done some research it seems to me that Common (Also known as) Cherry Laurel would be a good bet.We have an existing Conifer hedge that's out of control. For example, it's growing over the footpath and causing the meter high Garden wall to crack. The hedge is planted up close to the wall. While we dislike the hedge we want to retain the great privacy that it gives us.
The hedge is in our front garden so we would have to go through planning to add in a 2-meter high fence.
My thinking is to cut the front off the hedge back and start to plant in front of it. Obviously, we will have to go through a pain point before we can finally cut out the conifers altogether. The hedge is 30 Meters long and the new hedge plants would be West and South West facing.
I am concerned about the following:
- The condition of the ground in front of the existing hedge and how to improve it.
- The ability to plant and get past the roots (could I get away with disrupting/cutting the existing hedge roots).
Justin
0
Posts
I know what you mean, it sounds like a faff to me as well.
I think my wife would kill me if I were to remove and not replace with something quite large and therefore expensive. There are security considerations and we would be rather overlooked.
I think if we were to look at the more established plants we would probably have to investigate our fence options. Then once the fence is in place add in smaller plants and let them grow. The trouble is as it's the front garden it's not clear what will be acceptable with the planners. I know that way back planning for a fence here was refused but I think they might now reconsider as times have changed and others have added in fencing.
Do you have any thoughts about, improving the ground condition and whether I can disturb the roots of the existing hedge and by how much?
Also worth considering that conifers can make soil more acid, as well as poorer, so other plants may not find it as easy to establish in the sane area.
I would take them all out and erect a half fence/half trellis option - where the trellis is integral to the fence part below (sorry, don't know the technical name!).
Nobody could object to the height, as they're not too high, you have fence in the bottom half to act as a shield, but trellis above for climbers that can also give you privacy.
Then you can intersperse some fast growing and larger shrubs, even flowering ones, or perhaps add a small tree too.
May be more fun than a row of identical shrubs - you can play around with leaf textures and colours more too.
Have attached photo.
@treehugger80 I thought Laurel because they do well in shade and full sun, but yes Beech maybe an option.
My research tells me that the above is not permitted. (https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/20/fences_gates_and_garden_walls)
Although if you have insight that tells me otherwise this might be a great option.
@AnniD Yes there is a space issue, that's why I thought about cutting back the front of the hedge (the bit you can see in the pic) and adding the new plants in until established. That would give me a meter of ground between the border and the trunks of existing hedge plants. Perhaps I would need to get much further back for this to work.
Perhaps this is just not advisable as its so unlikely to succeed no matter what work I put in.
Am reluctant to go to planning (it's complicated) but if this is just a no go then I guess will have to consider this or the alternative to buying in instant hedging at a cost of circa £10k. Sufficed to say am willing to putting a lot of effort in to avoid this massive bill.