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Leylandii tree bark flaking off ?

purrfectflowerpurrfectflower Posts: 4
in Problem solving
This seems to be continuing - started last Spring - should we cut these down ? Half the tree seems unaffected so seems a shame - can’t see any fungus just peeling and leaving pale wood ? Any advice gratefully received x Thanks Annette 
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  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    They have been butchered rather than pruned and will never look any better, I would get rid of them.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Even without the bark problem - they weren't bonny, as @steephill says. 
    If you can get shot of them, there are plenty of much nicer alternatives.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • purrfectflowerpurrfectflower Posts: 4
    Thanks everyone - oh gosh we are not gardeners as u can all see - these trees do give our bungalow shelter as we live on a hill overlooking the sea & we sure need the shelter. Changing them hmm - we wouldn’t have any idea or the money to replace so guess will keep them as long as they stay standing and giving us shelter. Thank u all again. 
  • WillowBarkWillowBark Posts: 243
    It's possible that they may not stay standing much longer. I think the white wood is dead. From a safety point of view, it might be wise to get a professional in to assess them and advise on the best course of action, because I am not sure if it would be a good idea to try and keep them.

    You can get young trees relatively cheap if you order them bareroot (around about this time of year), and although they won't provide immediate screening, it won't take them very long to get going depending on the species. I think places like the Woodland Trust sometimes do free or cheap tree packages as well, so that might be worth looking into?
  • purrfectflower72Q3kwnoGnpurrfectflower72Q3kwnoGn Posts: 2
    Thank you willowbark  - we will take some advice.  

  • purrfectflower72Q3kwnoGnpurrfectflower72Q3kwnoGn Posts: 2
    Oh and thank u kindly of advice re replacement trees ! 
  • WillowBarkWillowBark Posts: 243
    You're welcome, happy to help, @purrfectflower72Q3kwnoGn
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @purrfectflower, some largish shrubs will give you more shelter and look much more interesting/help wildlife etc. You can buy them very cheaply as bare root specimens in bundles from garden centres or online but of course you will need to pay for the existing trees to be removed. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think the main worry is that they aren't safe [potentially] and that could give you even more problems @purrfectflower. It would definitely be worth getting someone to take a look.
    As some of us have said, there are better alternatives which would give you the necessary shelter and would also be safer and easier to manage. 
    It's also worth checking your insurance. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Yes, conifers are quite shallow-rooted, and those roots rot quickly once the tree is dead, so they could potentially be blown down by the wind.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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