Leylandii cutting and regrowth

I have a long section of scraggy Leylandii hedge that I want to replace with fencing. A friend was coming with machinery to pull the Leylandii out. He may be delayed, so I was wondering about just cutting them down, flush to the ground, as I had read somewhere that Leylandii don't regrow. Can anyone please tell me if this is correct?

Thanks
Richard

 

Belatedly proof-reading my subject line, that was "cutting" not "dutting", obviously.

The trunks are fairly small as it's not been there that many years. Also quite widely spaced. If I'm lucky I'll be able to measure it out in such a way that I can avoid the stumps and just have to cut some roots as I go. However it's a good point, thanks.

Cheers
Richard

 

Cut all the branches off & use the trunks as ready made fence posts ?

 

Have you actually ever tried that or is it just one of your normal brilliant ideas?

 

I do not think that would work Ziggy

I had Leylandii as a barrier at the bottom of the garden
(started as attractive hedge, then privacy, then too high cut back, then remove all but two, which snapped after high winds leaving two seven foot trunks)

The trunks used as climbing frames, however now after six years they rock about as rotten at ground level

Jack McH

 

Plan A is still brute force and a Bobcat ;-)


Cheers
Richard

 

I chopped all the roots off my leylandii at the last house. It was hard work but doable. It only took me two evenings, and that included digging a trench about 3ft deep by 3ft wide all the way along.

A combination of tree loppers (for roots less than about 3 inches thick) and a good Stanley saw for the thicker roots sorted it out. I had to drink much sweet tea and eat a few mars bars, and I couldn't stand up straight for a few days, but I tackled it ok.

If you are still considering pulling them out, best leave a few foot of trunk above the surface for leverage, but when I did mine the roots spread far and wide, so it would take an impressive winch (or JCB) to yank them out roots and all.

 

Hi Gerald,

Take a look at my thread Leylandii Thug on page 3 of Gardening Discussion that may give you some help.