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Lifting the crown on Conifers

Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
edited October 2023 in Plants
Hi,

We have two large conifers which I dislike. Removing them and planting something else is an option but they are so tall and provide such a good screen it would take so long to get back to that state. For a row of hornbeams in my garden I raised the crown by defoliating all the lower brances below 6ft. This allowed me underplant around them. Would this work with the conifers so that I can underplant? 
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  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    A great question!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes. No problem. Just take them back neatly to the main trunk or trunks. 
    How far you take them just depends on what you want the finished look to be. It's better on those which are a natural triangular 'tree' shape   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited October 2023
    Am I right in thinking that for most conifers (not yew), raising the crown (taking off lower branches) means they will never grow back - so it's a one-time decision?


  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Yes, you are right @Fire, the cut branches won’t grow back.  Thuja is an exception which is why it makes a good hedging plant.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    Thank you all. The main reason for wanting to do it is because nothing grows around it (not even grass). I was hoping by doing this I maintain the screen at the top above the fence but then I can get access underneath to improve the soil and have a nice border there. 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I would suggest that you pull down the branches you want to cut off if you can and see what the rest looks like,  they’re usually brown in the middle because they’ve had no light.
    I tried to do it with a whopper here,  I left it in the end. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    We have one rather large, imposing conifer in our plot.  No idea what kind it is but it sits there being a dark green blob but, rather than remove it, we've taken off some of the lower branches and will be setting a table and a couple of chairs under it next spring so we can sit and have a drink in the shade when we need a rest from gardening down that end of the garden.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Was yours green in the middle @Obelixx?  Ours would look awful if you stood under it,  lost of bare brown branches,  it only seems to be green on the edges. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    That's a good idea @Obelixx

    There is something along the lines of what I am picturing in my head but with a fence at the back (and different plants):



    Do you think I would have to consider putting only plants that can cope with dry soil? I'm also thinking the conifer roots will be a problem when putting the plants in?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    What you have there @Alfie_ is a pleached hedge and those are usually done with trees such as beech, hornbeam, catalpa - all deciduous trees that respond well to being pruned on a hroizontal plane.

    Not really do-able with conifers so you'd have to stick to raising the crown and keeping it as a rounded, 3 dimensional form.   Mine is conical.

    @Lyn - no, it's not noticeably brown in the middle but I'll go and check just how much brown there is tomorrow pm, after the weekly shop.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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