I've just read through this thread and would agree with all the advice that you have been given above. One other option for you to consider is to top your border with a thick layer of bark chips (some are more decorative than others) and then place a series of containers or pots on the border containing flowering shrubs or perennials that you like - many will tolerate that morning sun/afternoon shade regime. That way you give your neighbour easy access to the hedge for maintenance and get some interest and colour in your border to conceal the lower "leggy" bit of the conifers.
I would consider investing in some good quality pots or containers. There's lots of tall airy perennials that will tolerate those conditions in pots like Verbena bonariensis and bronze fennel, and ornamental grasses like Calamagrostis Karl Foester. They prefer full sun but will be OK with regular watering and turning around so that the whole plant gets some exposure to sun. You can then change your plants according to season. I would probably only use two plant species, repeated to create a sense of rhythm, but that's just personal taste.
Hi @Fairygirl I have definitely dug up a Thuja for someone in the past because it had partly died unaware that it could be pruned .That's gardening always learning. May be it was for the best when you read this thread. @TSM hope you can find something from all the comments that will help. Good Luck.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
There's not many that you can 'revive' @GardenerSuze. Sometimes it just isn't worth the grief though. I often pass a house which has a couple of large firs, and other trees, in the garden. One has died, and looks horrific, but removing it will mean exposing the even larger fir behind it, and it'll be brown all down that side where the dead tree was growing. Not an easy solution to that one!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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I would consider investing in some good quality pots or containers. There's lots of tall airy perennials that will tolerate those conditions in pots like Verbena bonariensis and bronze fennel, and ornamental grasses like Calamagrostis Karl Foester. They prefer full sun but will be OK with regular watering and turning around so that the whole plant gets some exposure to sun. You can then change your plants according to season. I would probably only use two plant species, repeated to create a sense of rhythm, but that's just personal taste.
Thujas can be pruned back without a problem - that's what the hedge is. It's one of the few conifers that comes back from brown wood
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
be it was for the best when you read this thread. @TSM hope you can find something from all the comments that will help. Good Luck.
I often pass a house which has a couple of large firs, and other trees, in the garden. One has died, and looks horrific, but removing it will mean exposing the even larger fir behind it, and it'll be brown all down that side where the dead tree was growing. Not an easy solution to that one!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...