I myself would feel cautious ordinarily, but a relative recently used this company to remove similar trees to stump and were very happy with their work, so they have come recommended. Also yes I checked that they are insured. They quoted from the photo, slightly less to top, not a great deal more to cut to stump. I did have another tree surgeon out, who lived locally. He advised reducing to gutter level or to stump. Again he would not commit to which was the best option.
That's good. Ask them for an honest opinion on what they would look like and how they would regrow if cut to gutter level. They might not be able to take much off the depth/thickness so in the long term it could be better to get rid altogether and put in something nicer. If they aren't taking the stumps out and you might want to do it later, get them to leave tall stumps to act as levers. Have a look at this thread for a discussion about taking out stumps https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1034896/advice-needed-re-conifer-stumps .
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
My neighbours had theirs topped, whilst not very attractive initially they have now grown back in to a nice shape. Trying to make a decision is giving me a headache, at this rate I will have to postpone the job. But thank you all who have taken the time out to comment.
Well folks after much deliberation as no doubt you are aware of I decided to lop the conifers. Text the company to ask for lopping and thinning..they rang me back. After feeling pressured to come to a decision it appears they are happy to wait until the day and advise me. They suggested if I go to gutter level I would need them topped annually which would seem to much of an expense for me. Whilst the conversation was reassuring, having spent all week mulling it over and finally making my mind up I am back to indecision. Everyone who has commented has been very helpful, watch this space as I will be back with an update over the weekend. Thank you
Referring to thinning, have a look inside the trees and see how much green there is on the side and front branches before it looks brown. They can’t be cut as far as that brown as they never green up again.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
It seems clear that you're undecided - nothing wrong with that.
If I were you, my train of thought would be:
-I'm undecided
-I would probably know what I wanted once I'd seen the results of height reduction or of cutting down
-It's relatively cheap and easy to make the move from height reduction to cutting down, and it's not possible to go from cutting down to height reduction
-Go with height reduction -live with it for a few weeks - decision will emerge
I don’t think they’ve been lopped before, they’re just a different heights. If your tree feller is willing to do it in two stages you could just have the height reduced, but they will then look very wide, it’s difficult to cut into the sides of these trees. They will look very wide and bushy if cut from the just the tops.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Thank you all once again. They are here now and I decided after discussion to go down to stump. Already looks a lot better, but still a way to go. Will come back with pictures.
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They quoted from the photo, slightly less to top, not a great deal more to cut to stump.
I did have another tree surgeon out, who lived locally. He advised reducing to gutter level or to stump. Again he would not commit to which was the best option.
Trying to make a decision is giving me a headache, at this rate I will have to postpone the job. But thank you all who have taken the time out to comment.
Text the company to ask for lopping and thinning..they rang me back. After feeling pressured to come to a decision it appears they are happy to wait until the day and advise me.
They suggested if I go to gutter level I would need them topped annually which would seem to much of an expense for me.
Whilst the conversation was reassuring, having spent all week mulling it over and finally making my mind up I am back to indecision.
Everyone who has commented has been very helpful, watch this space as I will be back with an update over the weekend.
Thank you
They can’t be cut as far as that brown as they never green up again.
Your plant has already been lopped by its look. If you lop it will be up to the former height in 2 years.
Bight the bullet.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
If your tree feller is willing to do it in two stages you could just have the height reduced, but they will then look very wide, it’s difficult to cut into the sides of these trees. They will look very wide and bushy if cut from the just the tops.
They are here now and I decided after discussion to go down to stump. Already looks a lot better, but still a way to go.
Will come back with pictures.