Cutting through Leylandii roots to make planting holes

Rosebud24

I have a mature leylandii hedge at the end of my garden and my neighbour has one along our boundary. There is a gap between the hedges of about three metres. I want to put a metal arch in the gap and grow a clematis up one side and jasmine up the other. I have the plants already, in an 8 inch high pot and a 10 inch high pot.

My questions is: as I will have to cut through some of the trees' roots to make the planting holes, will I damage the trees?

I know it's going to be an arduous job but the gap looks really odd and I want to make a feature of it.

Yorkie1

Not sure about the damage to the trees, but I'd have thought the other plants are likely to struggle there. Mature trees suck an awful lot of water from the soil and there would be massive competition for light / water / nutrients for the newly planted clematis & jasmine.

Can you continue to grow the plants in pots at that location (perhaps bigger ones) rather than plant them in the ground?

Primrose

My experience of leylandii is that they suck all the moisture and goodness out of the soil for long distances away from their roots. I can't imagine that anything you try to grow anywhere near the roots will thrive. Sad to say I think you'll just be wasting your money. The only thing you can do is plant climbers in deep containers and even then the shade will probably finish them off.

Rosebud24

Thanks Yorkie1 and Primrose. Light isn't an issue as the arch would be south west facing. I had thought about the nutrient and water issue but wasn't sure how much of a problem it'd be. I experimented by planting some sweet pea seedlings at the bottom of one of the leylandii trees and they've done ok. I water them every day though. I imagine it will be different for a perennial plant as the compost nutrients will only last for a while. I think I'll do as you suggest and grow in pots.