Replace leylandi hedge with traditional? But what?

Martin_Knott-Lewis

I have an overgrown leylandi hedge that I don't like because:

It costs a fortune to get it trimmed, as it is so tall, thick trunked and fast growing.

Nothing will grow in the beds below it.

I really want the lot felled and the stumps removed. But I do want to provide for wildlife (I have nest boxes) and I want some year round privacy from neighbours.

I have been looking at other hedges and like some that look like traditional English hedges. I don't mean privet or anything that needs an electric hedge trimmer to maintain it to topiary perfection but somethingmore natural looking. And not too woody but very leafy. I would like it to grow taller than the fence but not as tall as the first floor windows.

Can anyone suggest anything?

twiglet98

My neighbour very kindly felled the huge leylandii hedge dividing our gardens a couple of years ago - it was higher than the roof. They replaced it with a "mixed native hedge" - google it for the usual recommended mixture of plants - they went in as foot-high plants, in staggered rows, in late autumn, and are already almost as high as the 3 foot wire fence. They are deciduous, though, so bare in winter, but an effective barrier nonetheless.

If beech grows well in your soil, it does at least keep its crisp brown leaves in winter, and both green and copper varieties are pretty. My buddleia never loses all its leaves, that's another to consider.

ixwood

Sounds like you want an "informal" hedge.

Holly, Eaeagnus Ebbingei, Berbeis Darwinii are all evergreen and suitable for hedges. The last 2 produce edible berries and are considered "super foods".

Other edible alternatives are Hazel, Blackthrorn, Roses, Juneberry, Snowberry. You could throw a couple of dwarf fruit tress in to if you wanted.

Or Rosmary or Lavender could be nice, but they won't get past 4-5 foot.

Martin_Knott-Lewis

Thanks, both!

Informal and native both sound about right. But the leydandii protrude/bush out too far sideways into the garden. I don't have a great garden width and would like something that stays narrow....

rhiwfield

We removed about 80' of overgrown leylandii 3 years back.

Part was replaced by fencing/decking, about 30' by Hawthorn (to link up with 40' of hawthorn/beech/hazel hedge) and 22' by beech.

It is taking time to thicken up so we have lost privacy in the short term.

Not sure about removing stumps, it will cost you more and gain you little if you are just replanting with hedging. They dont regrow when cut.

Lotus-eater

My neighbour has a lovely Hawthorn hedge, I really like it. But as rhiwfield says it does take a while to grow.

Primrose

Beech can be nice. The spring leaves are a beautiful fresh green and in autumn/winter the leaves remain brown and on the stalks for ages and are slow to fall, so it would help retain your privacy and provide good shelter for birds.

Patchwork_Quilt

Another vote in favour of beech hedges. Ours get one cut in the summer (that's probably wrong) and do tend to get rather wide if not firmly trimmed but a copper beech hedge is a magnificent thing and as other posters said, it keeps its leaves, even when dry.

paybacktime2008

The woodland trust will send you a 20 plant native hedging pack for free!

paybacktime2008

http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/schools/freetrees/

Sorry actually just seen they have no funding for 2009...but you can get 10% off and know you are helping the countries woodlands rather than a greedy garden centre.