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Removing leylandi

Nadger the badgerNadger the badger Posts: 29
in Talkback
Hello I need to remove 6 leylandi that are about twenty feet tall Thinking of cutting down to ground level with chain saw They are situated next to my pond so i cant use any poisons for the roots I would ideally like to leave them in Would this be advisable if not how could i get rid of them? Any advice greatfully received Nadger

Posts

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    If you want to remove the roots, leave a length of trunk so you can use it as a lever. Man and digger, man and chain and tractor? Or if you cut them to the ground get in someone to grind the stumps away.
  • Nadger the badgerNadger the badger Posts: 29
    Thanks for the input

    Tractor or digger cant get access in my small garden but grinding roots down would be an option

    Regards

    Nadger
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,140

    Leylandii won't regrow from the stumps even if you don't grind them out - they'll just rot down eventually, so although leaving the stumps isn't ideal it's not a disaster either.

    However, if you want to grow something else there it's good to get rid of them.

    Good luck image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,086

    We had a 15 m row of these 30' high when we bought our house in Harrow30 odd years ago.  They cut out light and moisture from us and our neighbours and took up loads of space at the base.

    No access for diggers and no funds for tree surgeons (mortgage rate 16% in those days) so we cut off the bottom branches to a height of 4' and then lopped the tops.   We left the stumps as they were so the roots would die of starvation and I grew plants to disguise the trunks.   After a couple of seasons we were able to wiggle them loose enough to take an axe to the thickest roots and remove the lot.

    The remaining roots rotted quietly away and we added lots of compost to the heavy clay soil and ended up with a lovely border and very happy neighbours.

    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
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    if its next to a pond leave the stumps and pile some logs on top and you have a hibernating place for frogs/toads/newts/hedgehogs etc.

    you can even plant it up with ferns and hostas to make it look nice

  • GardenGrower11GardenGrower11 Posts: 312

    Had a similar experience to welshonion and obelixx. My leylandii from previous owners were at least 25ft-30ft tall and out of all proportion to the size of the garden.

    Left the trunk stumps around 4ft similar to others have said. There's no regrowth, and the roots are surprising shallow if you've never removed one before. Was able to start getting them out a couple of years later, same way as obelixx.

  • Nadger the badgerNadger the badger Posts: 29
    Thats the way i will go

    Thanks everyone

    Regards

    Nadger
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