Tall Leylandi causes inspection issue on extension

kabayiri

Hi all

I'm having an extension done across the back of the house.
At one corner, there is a 30ft+ tall leylandi in the neighbour's garden. It is only about 1.5m away from the corner of our house.

The building inspector picked up on this being an issue. We suspected this might be the case.

We have spoken to the neighbours and they seem open to having this reduced in height, but how will a connifer of this size with several trunks look when it's down to 6 foot (ish) in height?

I'm not sure they will like the aesthetics of such a plant.

Am I better to explore the idea of funding their replacement of this plant with something more manageable ?

We have the same hedge on a neighbouring border (other side) and that is kept strictly to a 6 foot height, and an acceptable width.

I'm worried this particular plant will derail our project.

Any advice?

Alan_M_2

Communication is the only way you'll arrive at a suitable outcome.

Be nice, approach them, have a sit down and chat and ask them what they would like to happen.

laurel7172

The short answer is that it will look terrible.

But you need to talk to your neighbours-they may well be secretly glad to lose a 30ft Leylandii for free...

anotherbaldrick

If Adolf Hitler had been a Landscape Gardner instead of a Painter and Decorator he would have planted Leylandii all across Europe instead of trashing it. They are an awful plant , the thug of the plant world and chopped to 6ft will look orrible. Tell your neighbour that if he hoofs it out you will buy him something attractive to replace it.

kabayiri

You're right AlanM, my wife did talk to them, and they were fine.

But ... I think she downplayed how much would have to come off to make it acceptable. If we have to spend money I'd rather help them achieve a longer term manageable plant solution.

The leylandi wasn't planted by them, but these things can be a menace.

ormus

a few hundred quid as a bribe works wonders.
tell em to spend it at the local garden centre. on some nice plants and flowers.

kabayiri

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

If Adolf Hitler had been a Landscape Gardner instead of a Painter and Decorator he would have planted Leylandii all across Europe instead of trashing it. They are an awful plant , the thug of the plant world and chopped to 6ft will look orrible. Tell your neighbour that if he hoofs it out you will buy him something attractive to replace it.

Personally, I think you're right.

I'd rather have Triffids than Leylandii !

At least you can move them about the garden a bit more easily

muppet83

Even if its removed the impact on the foundations will be the same, depending on your foundation type of course. Although I'd still remove it as they're bloomin awful trees.

anotherbaldrick

There is one golden rule when pruning Leylandii . It should be done with a very sharp saw, in the middle of the night and the cut should be made about 1" above ground level.

davidjwest

kabayiri wrote: »

Personally, I think you're right.

I'd rather have Triffids than Leylandii !

At least you can move them about the garden a bit more easily

Do you know where I can get some Triffids?

:rotfl:

panchenlama

i took these out of the garden in the house i bought and was surprised how eassy it was the roots were not deep and not large. the plants were about 8 - 10 ft tall.

couldn;t you dig down and concrete you boundary so the roots cant grow into your land?