Should i worry about conifer growth rate?

longwalks1

We have several conifers at the bottom of our garden, the other side of bottom fence. They are approx 14m away from the house. We've lived here 3 years and they've grown a lot since we moved in, should we worry about their roots working their way up towards the house?

Grenage

Not at 14 metres, no. Keep their size down to your preferred height, because they will look awful if you cut them hard later on.

longwalks1

Grenage wrote: »

Not at 14 metres, no. Keep their size down to your preferred height, because they will look awful if you cut them hard later on.

Thanks Grenage, was looking back at photos of when we moved in and was shocked at how high they've gotten in 3 years. Will keep them under control, am guessing no ones going to complain if i trim them, even though they are growing in a common ground which is used as a walk through?

I certainly dont want the council to cut them right back, or worse still, cut them down as they do offer a great deal of privacy

glasgowdan

Which side of the garden are they on? NSEW?

If they're not your plants you technically shouldn't touch them, but if you know it's an area where nobody will care then I'd trim them if that's the best way to keep them sensible.

What strikes me though is that someone must have planted them if they were small and have got quite big in 3 years. So who did?

peter_the_piper

Depends on conifer variety, if its a leylandii type make sure you cut into the green wood where possible, they don't regrow very well from brown wood.

sheramber

Many conifers do not respond to trimming. You should establish what kind they are.

As they are on common ground you should not cut them without permission of the owner. Don't count on nobody complaining.

longwalks1

glasgowdan wrote: »

Which side of the garden are they on? NSEW?

If they're not your plants you technically shouldn't touch them, but if you know it's an area where nobody will care then I'd trim them if that's the best way to keep them sensible.

What strikes me though is that someone must have planted them if they were small and have got quite big in 3 years. So who did?

Hi Glasgowdan

We have a south facing back garden and they are at the bottom of it, so they get a fair bit of sun (when its out). If they grow the same speed throughout their lifetime, I'd say they were planted within the last 10 years, strange as they are in a communal alleyway (not tarmaced or paved, just grass thats been worn down with people walking on it)

longwalks1

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Depends on conifer variety, if its a leylandii type make sure you cut into the green wood where possible, they don't regrow very well from brown wood.

They do look like Leylandii conifers (i googled them quickly). A neighbour cut back a load of conifers in his garden last year, well he basically cut the top 4 or 5m straight off the top of them, didnt trim them up to look smaller all round, just straight through them half way up and they havent even started growing again. Look a mess to be honest

Not what we want, just want to keep them under control, and for them to retain their shape

longwalks1

sheramber wrote: »

Many conifers do not respond to trimming. You should establish what kind they are.

As they are on common ground you should not cut them without permission of the owner. Don't count on nobody complaining.

Pretty sure they are Leylandii (I think)

I can only imagine the previous homeowners may of planted them 10-15 years ago the other side of their fence for added shelter from the communal alleyway (I'm only guessing though), we didnt want to ask the council in case they came out and deemed them a danger or 'Health and Safety' risk and removed them completely or cut them down to about 2m tall

moneyistooshorttomention

britishboy wrote: »

Thanks Grenage, was looking back at photos of when we moved in and was shocked at how high they've gotten in 3 years. Will keep them under control, am guessing no ones going to complain if i trim them, even though they are growing in a common ground which is used as a walk through?

I certainly dont want the council to cut them right back, or worse still, cut them down as they do offer a great deal of privacy

Personally - I'd probably come out and offer you a cup of coffee (as I'd be feeling relieved they weren't going to be allowed to get too high).

The other side of that coin is - if they were allowed to just "grow and grow" - then I'd certainly be reporting them to the Council (or dealing with them firmly myself.....).

Davesnave

If you want to be sure of privacy or prevent criminal access over the fence, then it's better to have your own boundary planting on your land.

One day, these trees could just go.