Leylandii options

mcdermott_c

Our house has big Leylandii hedges on two sides (planted years ago by previous owners). The hedges are in good condition and I really like the privacy they give us. I have been cutting the hedges for the last few years, but they are now getting out of hand, so wondered what options I have to make maintenance easier but keep some privacy.
The hedge is 3m wide x 3.5m high, however, we are fortunate that the hedges back onto a farmers field on one side and a small carpark on the other (so not overhanging into any neighbours houses). I have come up with the following options and wondered if anyone has done something similar and can offer some advice about which might be best approach?

1. Take 1m off the top and trim the width annually to stop them getting wider.
2. Cut everything back to trunks and use these as stumps to attach an 8ft wooden fence (chancing my arm with height as no neighbours to complain)
3. Cut down to ground level and plant Laurel in between the stumps to start a new hedge (will the laurel grow with the leylandii roots still there?)
4. Take stumps and roots out entirely and put up a temporary fence, planting a new hedge in front. Remove fence once hedge established (This may not be possible as roots will likely spread a far distance under tarmac of carpark.

Thanks

Mojisola

Best to ask this on the Greenfingered Moneysaving board.

mcdermott_c

oops didnt know there was that board - will repost there thanks!
Please ignore reposted on correct board

FreeBear

Please, not laurel - It is another fast growing thug with the added disadvantage that it will shoot up from the stump when cut down.

If you want a hedge, plant a mix of hawthorn, hazel, and holly - The RHS has a page that will provide other suggestions - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/articles/misc/best-native-shrubs-for-hedging

Apodemus

...and not just from the stump!  It will spread from underground and keep coming up where you don't want it.

Rosa_Damascena

FreeBear said:

Please, not laurel - It is another fast growing thug with the added disadvantage that it will shoot up from the stump when cut down.

If you want a hedge, plant a mix of hawthorn, hazel, and holly - The RHS has a page that will provide other suggestions - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/articles/misc/best-native-shrubs-for-hedging

Bu be prepared to sustain minor injuries from the holly and hawthorn. In fact give the holly a miss altogether, it spreads via birds.

Apodemus

At least with holly you can easily pull out any seedlings - that's not an option with laurel.

I'm slowly extending my holly hedges and incorporating beech, along with a few hawthorns, oaks, rowan and birch.  As long as you water it, holly will grow as an understorey under the remnants of the leylandii, allowing a longer-term approach that avoids a completely denuded boundary.  However, if I could go back 30 years and start again, I would have no hesitation in completely removing the Leylandii in one go.

another_casualty

Where I used to live in an upstairs maisonette , the neighbour below never bothered to maintain it , and it was coming up to my windows . Her husband was a lovely bloke , and I offered to pay to get it tidied . When he died ( shame nice guy and great neighbour ) she just got more obstructive . I cut bits off when she wasn't around , and in the end the only time she tidied it up was when she saw the for sale sign up outside the flats . 

You can tell I detest leylandii . Evil stuff ..