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Conifer hedge

alancarthyalancarthy Posts: 2
in Problem solving
I have a 30 yr old, approx 3m high × 6m long Leylandii hedge ( neighbours like the height as well due to sloping gardens) It is approx 450mm from neighbours fence, so bottom 2m on the fence side has no green, only the top 1m. It has grown too far into the garden and I am looking at ways of reducing the width without losing privacy. My current idea is to prune back all the way to the trunk on the garden side full height of the hedge. This will leave the top 1m on the fence side as a visual block. Then to plant laurels between the existing conifers ( they are 1m apart), and once they have grown sufficiently remove the 1m section above the fence line, and eventually the trunks. In planting laurels I an sure I will damage the conifer roots, but they will have less greenery to sustain?, and hopefully will have less water demand. Reduction Iin  green area would be approx 75%

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think it would be very difficult to achieve @alancarthy .
    Laurel needs a lot of water to thrive, especially at the start, and the gap isn't likely to be  sufficient to establish the laurel easily, because conifers have shallow roots and the gap will be full of those. 
    Even if you're in one of the wetter parts of the UK, it would be very difficult to get the laurel established, because of the initial watering, even at this time of year and through winter. Even if they did, it would be a hellish task to remove the conifer trunks later on. 
    Sorry if that's rather negative!
    If you have a photo of the site, that might help with some ideas though   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • alancarthyalancarthy Posts: 2
    edited November 2022
    Thx for that, it was a concern. Another option might be to cut back the bottom section by 600mm, (or further if it doesn't affect the higher area- lower branches seem to hold the greenery for much higher up the tree, so cutting back further to the trunk will remove green areas from higher up). Then perhaps trellis with an evergreen fast climbing plant that likes shade to hide the cut area, and protect the fence behind ( we live in a very windy but mild area). As long as I can cut back above head height that should be OK. Hedge slopes from 3m - 4m high
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes  - it's never easy when you have this type of hedge. Most conifers won't come back from being cut back into brown wood unfortunately, and- as leylandii gets very big and wide rather quickly, it has to be kept under control from early on.
    I'm not sure what you mean about the lower branches holding the greenery - conifers grow on the ends of their branches, so what you see on the outside of the tree/shrub is all the new growth, and the parts of the branch nearer the trunk gradually become brown as the old growth dies off. I hope that makes sense!
    However, a trellis and a climber might be easier, as long as you can still get into the hedge for annual trimming, and can get a climber established. It's usually easier to plant them a decent distance away from the conifer, or from any hedging, to give them a chance to establish. The soil will need beefed up too before you plant. It's always worth spending some time and money on that prep, to give plants a good chance  :)
    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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