Leylandii alternative

robatwork

My neighbours have chopped some lovely trees in their garden down which gave us shade and privacy. I want to put something in their place fast growing. If I went for leylandii I would keep them trimmed to a reasonable 3 or 4m once they grew, but what else could I grow that reaches that sort of height and coverage?

[Deleted User]

There isn't another evergreen tree or shrub that has as fast a growth pattern as Leylandii hence their presence in so many gardens.


If you require evergreen and that growth pace I would replant more your side and if you can maintain them as they should be, yearly, then go ahead.


Check the planting distance between each one aswell their site in the garden because you don't want overcrowding nor moisture and goodness taken from nearby plants.


Distance awareness to proximal buildings goes without saying.

Apodemus

I have a Leylandii hedge which I hate with a vengeance, but a single tree in the row is a different species, which I believe is a Lawson cypress. Unlike the Leylandii, the Lawson can be pruned hard back and regrows from the wood. It seems to be just as fast growing as the Leylandii, but much more manageable. So if I was doing as you propose, I would have some thought for future owners and plant something with long term manageability, like my single Lawson.

Davesnave

There are many kinds of Lawson cypress - the RHS lists 42 -so you have to be careful which you choose.


Another more trimmable tree is Thuja plicata or Western Red Cedar, which isn't as fast as leylandii, but probably fast enough. Again, 60 varieties, so you'd just want the un-named sort, or maybe the variety 'Emerald,' which is a particularly nice green. More details on the RHS site.


The fastest-growing evergreen trees aren't leylandii, which can't approach the speed of some Eucalyptus, but these are not easy to maintain at a constant height and totally unsuitable for most town gardens.

robatwork

Davesnave wrote: »

Another more trimmable tree is Thuja plicata or Western Red Cedar, which isn't as fast as leylandii, but probably fast enough. Again, 60 varieties, so you'd just want the un-named sort, or maybe the variety 'Emerald,' which is a particularly nice green. More details on the RHS site..

Thanks all - I have been onto the RHS and other (not as good) forums and seen a few recommendations for the Thuja which I am leaning towards.

As a rule of thumb I have always thought a tree's roots are about as wide as the tree is tall in a normal garden when it comes to considering neighbouring buildings. Is this true when it comes to conifers?

Davesnave

robatwork wrote: »

As a rule of thumb I have always thought a tree's roots are about as wide as the tree is tall in a normal garden when it comes to considering neighbouring buildings. Is this true when it comes to conifers?

Conifer roots are usually not extensive and most form a fibrous mass under the tree, as you describe.


Trees with notably wandering and invasive roots include willows and poplars. In the case of the latter, my supplier writes: "Do not plant within 140' of buildings." Bearing in mind the size of the average garden, that's quite difficult to comply with!