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Erecting a fence in front of Leylandii - Advice Needed!

kerrie_88kerrie_88 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
We have moved into a new house which has a well established Leylandii hedge along the back garden (34m in length, approx. 3m in height). It is currently in really good condition, well kept, and we'd like to keep it that way.

However, one of our hounds keeps crawling underneath the hedge and escaping from the garden. Ideally, we would insert a small, 1m high picket fence along the front of the hedge. We have been told by one gardener that inserting posts in front of the hedge would kill it. Others have told us as it will be fine so long as we don't go within the 'drip line'.

Another (more tricky) option would be for us to go to the other side of the hedges (not easy to access, but can if necessary). There are concrete posts in place which the hedge has grown past. Could we cut back the hedges to get into the existing posts to put fencing on that side of the hedge? Or would we kill the hedge by cutting it back so far on one side? It would need to be cut back a couple of feet and up from the ground to access the posts.

Can anyone advise? The last thing we want is to kill this huge hedge but we need a solution to stop the dog escaping.
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Posts

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited June 2020
    You can install a fence by driving posts into the ground using a rammer - it's most suitable for round posts with a pointed end. It wouldn't cause as much damage as digging holes to concrete in posts and would be OK for a low fence.
    See the source image
    You might want to consider using round posts and stock proof mesh, which would be hidden by the hedge in no time.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    I don’t know about the fence in front option. It sounds like you would be cutting into brown wood if you use the concrete posts? That won’t grow back, so it would look ugly from that side. If cutting so deep would make visible gaps from the garden side, then don’t risk it. We cut back a rampant Leylandii a year or so ago, pending removal, which we still haven’t done. It was a drastic pruning and it looks awful because it won’t grow back where we’ve cut into brown wood, but there’s no sign of die-back in the green parts at all, which look healthy. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Perhaps you could create a separate area a few metres in front of the hedge and fence that off rather than fence tight to the hedge? Make the area something that suits your garden but it could be a wildlife area or herb garden etc. You can conceal your fence with planting that uses the fence for support.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • kerrie_88kerrie_88 Posts: 4
    wild edges said:
    Perhaps you could create a separate area a few metres in front of the hedge and fence that off rather than fence tight to the hedge? Make the area something that suits your garden but it could be a wildlife area or herb garden etc. You can conceal your fence with planting that uses the fence for support.
    That does sound like a lovely idea, however I fear the dog would jump the fence! Need it to be tight to the hedge unfortunately. Thank you for your comment.
  • kerrie_88kerrie_88 Posts: 4
    WillDB said:
    You can install a fence by driving posts into the ground using a rammer - it's most suitable for round posts with a pointed end. It wouldn't cause as much damage as digging holes to concrete in posts and would be OK for a low fence.
    See the source image
    You might want to consider using round posts and stock proof mesh, which would be hidden by the hedge in no time.
    Thank you for the advice. We did think that posts and chicken wire/stock fencing would be the most cost effective option!
  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    kerrie_88 said:
    WillDB said:
    You can install a fence by driving posts into the ground using a rammer - it's most suitable for round posts with a pointed end. It wouldn't cause as much damage as digging holes to concrete in posts and would be OK for a low fence.
    See the source image
    You might want to consider using round posts and stock proof mesh, which would be hidden by the hedge in no time.
    Thank you for the advice. We did think that posts and chicken wire/stock fencing would be the most cost effective option!

    Depending on your ground conditions you may want to hire a hand auger to pilot the holes. Ground is rock hard in most places and a post-rammer alone might be a struggle. Just something to consider and potentially make the job easier. 
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    kerrie_88 said:
    wild edges said:
    Perhaps you could create a separate area a few metres in front of the hedge and fence that off rather than fence tight to the hedge? Make the area something that suits your garden but it could be a wildlife area or herb garden etc. You can conceal your fence with planting that uses the fence for support.
    That does sound like a lovely idea, however I fear the dog would jump the fence! Need it to be tight to the hedge unfortunately. Thank you for your comment.
    I can understand that. I fenced off a kitchen garden using standard 80cm high stock wire and had to add 2 top strands of wire to stop my collie jumping straight over it.

    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • kerrie_88kerrie_88 Posts: 4
    wild edges said:

    I can understand that. I fenced off a kitchen garden using standard 80cm high stock wire and had to add 2 top strands of wire to stop my collie jumping straight over it.

    The lengths we go to for our beloved dogs!
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    I’m wondering if @kerrie_88 decided on a solution in the end? 

    I plumped for a picket/lollipop fence in front of our inherited leylandii. It’s another day away from completion and it’s looking great. 


  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Just in case anyone searches for this on Google (as I did), and ends up here, and wants to know what one of the possible options could look like....

    Our hedge is in its own border which has a concrete slab barrier that goes about 3 feet down so no roots were harmed.

    Just need to decide what to do with the actual space now. 


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