Cypress hedge??

Suzy-Q

I have been lurking on this forum for a very long time....I usually find answers to any problems by reading other peeps. posts etc.....I have what I believe to be a 7/8 foot hedge (cypress ; It smells of lemons when cut?!!!) in my garden. It gives privacy to both myself and neighbour. This year I have noticed brown patches coming through. Also the very end of the hedge is virtually all brown. This is right next to a large Laurel. I think the hedge is dying. It is getting too high for me to manage, should I just take the whole thing out? There's a 4 foot fence behind it that belongs to neighbour.

I_have_spoken

It is getting too high for me to manage, should I just take the whole thing out?

That would seem best; nothing worse than a conifer hedge which is out of control.

Suzy-Q

thks for your reply....would it still grow if I cut off 2/3 feet? or is it best to take it out as OP has mentioned???...Anyone ????

peter_the_piper

If you want to lower a cyprus then cut only the central stem and cut to about 6-12 inches below the outer stems. This will allow you to trim the top of the hedge without banging into the trunk. Not sure but if I'm right, lemon smelling could be Thuja Plicata in which case it will grow out of the brown wood unlike most conifers.

Suzy-Q

Thank you so much for the help/advice.....will try this. I would really like to keep the hedge, but was too scared to cut into it!
Many thanks,