Please help, have I caused irreversible damage and if so what can I do?
Ian H
Posts: 4
I organised for the pruning of fir trees that act as dividers between the drives of my neighbour and I. Because the fir tree was encroaching into my drive by approx 50cm or more in parts (due to lack of care over the past 10 years) it involved a severe pruning as the garage door was being obstructed. I am now concerned that this will not grow again. I assume that this is a Arborvitae, could you please help me identify it from the picture? Will this grow back or has it been pruned too much? The branches that have been left are approx 75cm long, the gardener did not go back to the trunk, however, from what I have been reading I am now concerned that permanent damage has been done.
If this won't grow back, what can I do to put this right, plant some more of the same variety within the gaps?
Many thanks in advance for all your help.
Ian
Posts
Could you post a picture of the live area, please?
It's difficult to know what it is from your photo.
I can see scraps of green there - your alternative is to train up those scraps to cover the bare areas, as it'll be difficult to establish other plants amongst the roots.
Also, if this is a dividing hedge, make sure you don't upset your neighbour if you choose ivy, as it could go through the tree and damage his side.
It doesn't matter what you try thats leyllandii, it won't grow back and you can't train green growth back through it. Growing Ivy through it will eventually choke the hedge.
I don't know how tall it has become, but as any boundary hedge it should be maintained at 2m under current legislation.
Again I don't know how much space you have so I'd be reluctant to make suggestions without knowing more.
There will be options, there always are, a broader view of the area would help.
Hi Dave, you can train green back through it - I've done it myself. But it does take time.
It's worth a try
Thank you for the quick replies! The live area is the top and the neighbours side (have included 3 more pictures, 2 of my side and 1 birds eye view). There is approx 1 metre left live on my side as we stopped when my neighbour alerted me to the potential issue. That is the 3rd picture which refuses to display the right way up, apologies it is upside down despite rotating it. Hopefully these pictures give a better view and an appreciation of the space. My neighbours have always maintained their side so it did not encroach into their drive. We have been away for 10 years so the maintenance has been sporadic, hence the encroachment. The firs are approx 2.5 to 3m tall, my neighbours and I are ok with that. Given the small amount of green left, I am assuming this will take 4 years or so to grow back (if at all). If they won't sprout and there isn't enough to train, I could envisage getting rid of the branches on my side to allow space and more light for new leyllandii to grow from within. Thanks for the ivy suggestion, for now would rather not but will keep it in mind. Of course we could dig it all up and replant, however, I have upset my neighbours enough already with my ignorance, though it may be the best option!
Any further thoughts are much appreciated and happy to take more pictures but it will have to wait until tomorrow as the light has gone.
Thanks
Ian
I am happy to replace the hedge, will be a delicate conversation with my neighbours. My long term concern is that encoachment will happen again, therefore, what type of hedge can you prune (severely if required) that will grow again?
Am still keen to understand if there is anything I can do to salvage this one... It sounds like a no, though maybe there is a possibility to grow some new ones from within or planting ivy (which could choke it?).
Thanks
Ian
Yew is the hedging plant that you need. It will always regenerate even cut into the old wood.
I would give your current hedge a year just to wait and see. You never know. I had a 12foot length of leylandii regrow much to my amazement. I had already in my head had it yanked out and a fence put up but it surprised me totally.