garden restoration - when to prune/hack back questions

Its time to 'fess up....

After many years living abroad, we are about to start the process of moving back home to the UK. In fact, there is a very high probability that we will be moving back into my family home in Herefordshire.

So - I'm thinking of working on getting the garden back in shape. Its big - around 1/3 - 1/2 acre, with some serious tiering walls (4 foot, and 6 foot!), as well as a gentle slope in the lowest area, which partially floods at least once a year. Fortunately the house is on the highest area of land.

My dad died over 15 years ago, and no serious gardening has been done since. To be honest, he had let it go a little in the last 10 years of his life. So that's up to 25 years of over-growth in some areas!

Here's some initial questions:
Cutting back
There's a conifer hedge that is now over 5 feet deep in places, as well as nearly 10 foot high. Do I try to cut it back to its original size? Or get it removed, the boundary re-fenced (badly needs doing too) and then I would re-plant with a native mix?
'dwarf conifers' are now over 10 foot high - I assume I can cut them to the ground, and hope that the roots break down in time?
Pyracantha - I hate the thorny stuff - but Dad thought it kept burglars away, so there are two hedge areas of it, now over 3 foot deep, instead of the original 6". Can I just slowly work along the hedge in sections, cutting it immediately back to the original depth, or do I need to do it in stages?
Choisya ternata - there are two plants, one Ct, and one Ct sundance. Both have been allowed to grow well over their allotted space. When is the best time to cut back, How far, In stages (ie one branch in three?)
Dogwood - A planting group of 10+, variegated & red-stemmed - I can't think of the name, has been allowed to become a thicket (around 20 years old). Am I correct in thinking that the best thing to do is to cut one plant in three down to around 6" above the ground in early spring? I was thinking of cutting down the outer foot of the circle this coming winter/spring, and then working through to the next layer the following year, sort of onion-ring style. Or should i just bite the bullet and do it all in one go?

Replanting
I have plans to re-establish the orchard area in the lowest part of the garden. Delighted to hear Monty say that quince tolerate damp ground - so that will go at the bottom of the slope! How can I find good local fruit-tree suppliers? I'm sure that there must be some in the area... I know I can order on-line, but I'd rather establish a relationship with a local nursery if I can.

I think that's enough for now ... and I hope to take some photos in the next few months.

 

Given that in general conifers don't respond well to being cut back I'd get them removed, refence and native mix hedge.

As the "dwarf" conifers are 10 ft high you may well need to dig the roots out.

Yes I'd think so, but if you don't like the Pyracantha I'd consider removing it and planting what you like

The plain Choisya I'd cut back to it's allotted space next spring after danger of frost has gone, they can be cut hard back I've reduced mine to a stump more than once and it regrows in a couple of years. The "Sundance" I'd be more gentle with and do gradually.

If they're in good health and growing well I'd be inclined to bite the bullet with the plain ones and again be more gentle with the variegated ones.
Good luck with the new adventure.

 

Hello Sian...hooo you've got a challenge there! I'd have the conifer hedge out, for a start. You can hack back the Pyracantha as much as you want, but I'd leave the Choisyas until late Spring and then shape them. It can get a bit nippy in Herefordshire? You're spot on with the Cornus and it sounds a sensible way of keeping balance and something to look at while it's being rejuvenated. If you're able to chop round the roots of the dwarf conifers and use the tops for leverage you should be able to get the stumps out. They don't rot away quickly, IME.
ETA: Post crossed with Nigel's

 

Thank you Nigel!
It is good to have the advice to rip out the conifer hedge. I think that is the best option, overall, and it is good to be encouraged to be drastic, rather than to muddle through, which is my normal approach. I’m definitely a “make do and mend” kind of gal!

Ditto with the pyracantha - I will probably cut back to start, being ruthless, with the proviso that if it fails, I will replace sooner rather than later. Both boundaries need re-fencing, although only one side is our responsibility. Might need to tread carefully with the neighbour though - she’s had a v tough few years…

great news about the Choisya, as it’s the plain one that is more under threat with my garden plans. The Sundance I will take back slower - but I WILL get that garden door to open!

My fault with the description of the dogwood. It is the red-stemmed, variegated variety. Thinking about how it has grown, with brambles and native saplings coming up in the middle, I might do a wheel-spoke approach. Sort of cut paths into the centre of the thicket, and work across over three years. That way, there will always be some self-protection…

 

Oh yes. - I find it v daunting. Especially as the house also needs a lot of work. Kitchen ripped out, rooms knocked through, gas pipes moved, drive widened, re-wired, recarpeted ….
I am hoping that I can make a start on the garden now, before we move back. Fortunately, we invested in a chainsaw last year!

 

I agree mostly with nigel and noisette. I'd treat the Choyisa Sundance the same as the the plain ternata but either way is fine. Can always trim back the conifer as far as it will go ( do you know what type it is ) for now see what it looks like and remove when you have more time / money , I am just saying this so you don't jump in head first and not having the time to do it while looking at a eyesore . I don't find conifers to difficult to dig out with a mattock especially ones like cypress goldcrest .

Normally cornus with colour stems are cut back hard late winter like sibirica, I got a variegated cornus elegantissia which doesn't like the same treatment and has struggle recovering so I'd remove a 3rd of old branches with this one, its recently lost its RHS award for being unstable if I remember correctly . They are plenty of other variegated cornus . On yours personally I would just take it down just to make it easier to clear around it.

I've probably repeated what nigel and noisette reading back

 

I suggest you get quote(s) for removing and disposing of both conifer types and the pyracantha from local, legitimate, tree surgeons.
Neither are easy or pleasant to remove or handle.They will make a irksome task quick and let the light in for the fencing. If you then proceed with doing it yourselves, at least your exertions will be in proportion to the savings! Remember to ask them for a free supply of woodchips, (not coniferous or pyracantha!), which come in useful fresh or well composted.

 

I hope the move goes well for you Sian. You'll certainly have your work cut out when you return - with semi renovation of the house too.

A question I must ask though. Do you get to escape from your current sandy soil?

 

Thank you @Sheal . I will certainly be busy, although at the moment the house renovations look like they will be on hold for the foreseeable - family politics

Regarding the soil, it’s a case of from the ridiculous to the sublime. Rich red clay, which has been worked, dug and fed for many years. The bottom sloping garden/paddock regularly top-dressed by the river!

 

That sounds like a good plan - I think it is a Cypress hedge, now you mention it - quite a fragrant conifer, soft to the touch?

i think that’s the one!

That’s what I will probably do, as it will be difficult to tackle otherwise. It is a real thicket!

 

Yes they are quite feathery in a way . You'll have to take some pictures when you are ready they are some species in the conifer family what will take hard pruning .

 

Ok, so I’m back in red-clay country, so I’ll take some photos of the areas in question tomorrow, weather permitting.

 

Here goes (please, don’t laugh too loud, I might hear you!!

The choysia ternata - for scale, the wall is over 10’ tall. I know, the guy who “does” the garden is a lovely chap, but he knows *** all about when to prune plants! So he’s cut the choysias in the last week, ready for the first frosts. This one he cuts into a ball…

The choysia ternata sundance - which he cuts into a pyramid… To the left is a door to the living room, and I have to cut it back in the summer, so we can use the bench.

The large pyracantha hedge. When it was planted, the area where you can see the low wall, (which is about 10” high) and a good foot to the left of where it disappears, did not have the hedge planted. So I’m hoping to be able to free up that corner immediately - I have a baby pom-pom viburnum set aside for that area.

this gives an idea of how deep it is…
And how high!



This is the smaller pyracantha hedge, which was cut back by the gardener at the start of October, to about 6’ high - oh, and with a dwarf conifer on each side!!

 

Here are the dwarf conifers in all their glory…
The pyramid strikes again! Alongside the carefully pruned dead buddleia

this beauty is about 15’ high, and rather rotund! (I think that’s a seedling from the hedge growing behind it). For scale, the variegated lonicera hedge to the right is about 2.5-3’ high…


The group of conifers from the lawn - I think the left hand one should be variegated ?