Regular trimming or not , as you cannot cut into the brownwood on these monsters they are (by incremental growth) only going to get bigger ...and bigger.............and bigger .
The OP has already planted the hedge and invested money and 3-4 years in the project. Go easy! I'll take my chances but @katie.mac is only 7 posts in. Let's not give her nightmares!
@plant pauper Long term it will be a very expensive investment . Tree surgeons won't want to know, that is scary and yes personally it would give me nightmares. I am always wanting to encourage new gardeners but in this case I feel it needs to be said, I am trying to put it kindly to @katie-mac but struggling for any kind of positive that would be helpful. Caring for the land we grow plants on should be a priority.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Don’t wait until the hedge is the size you want it to be before you start regular trimming … that way lies stubby brown disaster.
You need to start trimming your hedge now, little and often, to encourage it to grow thick right from the bottom. Remember it wants to be a tree with a trunk and you have to keep the foliage thick right from the base. Just taking off an inch or two at a time is the way to go.
A well maintained Leylandii hedge can be splendid … but it is a big commitment … once it gets away from you there is no way back.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
They can certainly be kept at a reasonable size/width, but they have to be trimmed, and trimmed carefully [only removing new growth] from early on, but as I said earlier - and it's a big but, they don't naturally want to be neat and narrow like thuja for example. Around three to four feet is depth/width is about as narrow as they'll stay, and still look decent, but they can very easily get away and become huge in every direction, especially in the right conditions and climate. If you cut too far back, and into brown wood, that's it. I agree that the GC should have been open about them, given good and appropriate advice, and could just have wanted rid. The gold one isn't as thuggish as the bog standard green one.
If you have the room, and the necessary time for maintenance, they'll be fine. It's a big outlay, and I can understand the reason for planting them, but the hard work starts once they get going.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I know Leylandii attracts a lot of criticism but our Leylandii hedge is the most popular hedge/tree in our garden for birds. It provides a safe environment for them and they all dive in there when the Sparrowhawk visits. Pigeons, dunnocks and robins have all nested in there this year and a Goldcrest is regularly seen flitting around as it’s full of all sorts of insects, spiders and moths. As the birds fly into the garden they always fly into the Leylandii first before flying to our bird feeder.
When we moved here my heart sank when I saw it had a Leylandii hedge but we have it cut regularly and it we don’t let it get out of control. Regular maintenance is the key!
The point I was trying to make is the amount of maintenance required for a hundred leylandii this is not just a short hedge of say six. It is going to be hard work. I think I was wise to point that out.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
You are absolutely right @GardenerSuze and I would give the same advice to anyone considering planting them. They are not an easy option. My dad's NDN let his get too high and they destroyed the founds of dad's garage. It had to come down and be replaced. Dad's hedge sat round the corner, well behaved and looking as though it had been pruned by laser. The OP's hedge is already a fait accompli so we have to go from here. Do not take your eyes off it and don't let it get away!
Posts
I'll take my chances but @katie.mac is only 7 posts in. Let's not give her nightmares!
Caring for the land we grow plants on should be a priority.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If you cut too far back, and into brown wood, that's it. I agree that the GC should have been open about them, given good and appropriate advice, and could just have wanted rid. The gold one isn't as thuggish as the bog standard green one.
If you have the room, and the necessary time for maintenance, they'll be fine. It's a big outlay, and I can understand the reason for planting them, but the hard work starts once they get going.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When we moved here my heart sank when I saw it had a Leylandii hedge but we have it cut regularly and it we don’t let it get out of control. Regular maintenance is the key!
The OP's hedge is already a fait accompli so we have to go from here.
Do not take your eyes off it and don't let it get away!
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."