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Leylandii

Cecelia-LCecelia-L Posts: 120
in Problem solving
Morning all, 
my husband “rescued” a handful of Leylandii from B@Q a few weeks ago. They were only slightly parched and I have been looking after them fine. But I don’t know what to do with them now. 
When we first moved here many years ago we had to remove a mature Leylandii hedge that had taken out all the light. We’d relied on the neighbour’s hawthorn hedge for privacy. 

But the neighbour sold up in the summer and the developed blitzed through everything. Despite being quite a distance away I can see absolutely everything and I have no doubt they could now see into my front and back gardens. 

Husband wants to plant the Leylandii at intervals to allow them to grow into mature tree without taking too much light. I think that’s procrastination. We will have the same problem twenty years down the line when these trees are too large and we will have the poor soil issue to deal with too. 

What should I do with the Leylandii? 
What kind of screening should I plant to regain some privacy? 
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Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Cecelia-L I think you have answered your own question about concerns regarding leylandii. Personally they would put me off buying a house as not only can they become very expensive to keep in check old stems get brown and won't recover. You also mention dry poor soil.
     I don't know if you are able to up load any photos don't worry if they are upside down. Perhaps other forum members can then add their thoughts as long term it is a big decision.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'd dump them. It'll be a lot easier to get rid of them now than down the line.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I think Leylandii do get a bad press, the problem is not so much with the conifers themselves but the care of them.
    They can be just left to grow at a tremendous rate , until they reach the state of your neighbour's trees.
    Any hedge will extract a lot of moisture, but if you are planning on a conifer hedge l can recommend Thuja plicata. It looks very like Leylandii but is slower growing and much easier to maintain. You can also cut back into the wood and it will grow back, albeit slowly.
    Plant wise ,l don't think there's such a thing as an instant "view blocker" unless you have the budget of a Chelsea show garden. 
  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    The Leyland cypress grow to over 20metres in height at a rate of a metre a year so in twenty years will be towering over the houses in your area and making for some very dark gardens and houses if you just let them grow into mature trees. I don't think they have a place in an urban or suburban setting as even when kept as a hedge or regularly trimmed the growth rate makes them too much work to keep under control. I agree with B3.
    If you do want a screen then plant something you like the look of that is easier to keep under control. I think Cotoneaster franchetii is one of the better options but a mixed planting of native hedgerow species might be more interesting with more variation over the year but still possible to include evergreens like holly.

    Happy gardening!
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • Cecelia-LCecelia-L Posts: 120
    Thanks for all the replies. 

    We had nearly given into the temptation of the quick fix. Trouble with leylandii is that they are so readily available and so easy in the short run but PITA years down the line. 

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    What height of screening do you need to regain your privacy @Cecelia-L?  I'm sure there are other possibilities which would suit you better than Leylandii in both the short and long term.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Cecelia-LCecelia-L Posts: 120
    Thanks for taking the time to reply.


    I reckon at least 8ft, possible 10ft hedge. 

    We are on a hill and the Neigbour is higher up on the hill. 
    There is about half an acre of land in between our houses but the neighbouring property’s on an elevated position. Since all the hedges and trees have been removed we are suddenly very exposed. 



  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I would just wait for a few months and see how you feel then - you will soon get used to the different view and it may then not bother you so much.

    It really doesn't matter IMO if people can see into your garden or not. We live on a crowded island and have to live with dense housing. In Bath because of all the hills surrounding the city, most houses are overlooked from higher up. You learn to live with it. You are luckier than most if you have half an acre between you and your neighbour.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Do you know if your neighbours are going to plant anything the other side of your fence?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Cecelia-LCecelia-L Posts: 120
    Thanks but I most likely won’t wait for a few months.

    I’d prefer to have my privacy back, after all that’s why I bought this house. I am not keen on the various extensions on the adjacent house so I’d rather not be forced to look at it. 

    Who would want to miss this previous autumn planting season? I feel like I am running against the clock instead of having the luxury to wait and ponder. 
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