garden restoration - when to prune/hack back questions

Finally, we drop down 6’ to the lower, sloping garden.

Here’s a close-up of the conifer hedge, as requested


… and what it looks like in all its glory

It’s at its narrowest here, where it has to be cut back for the access gate. Around 3’ deep, I reckon


the variegated dogwood - clearly now is when you prune it, to cut off all those pesky red stems!!!


The outer edge is around 4’ high, banking up into the middle.



Most of the lower garden is like this underfoot - nettles and borage everywhere, with holes/cracks/?rat-runs making it quite treacherous to walk on. I am hoping that regular cutting will restore some normality, as well as enabling the hundreds of cowslips to flourish.

 

That conifer hedge looks like Lawson's cypress, or leylandii and neither of them will rejuvenate from hard cutting back. Unless you need it as a wind-break, or for privacy, I'd get rid. There are so many attractive, manageable alternatives.
As the Cornus stems aren't at their best, there's nothing much to lose by attacking it now? How about taking out all the wispy stuff and just leave some strong stems, a third of which could be pruned properly in spring?
Don't envy you the nettles! I'd be very tempted to do a weed'n' feed and take a chance on the cowslips coming back from dormant seed.

 

Well that's one job that won't need doing again.

 

I think the gardener either needs his/her marching orders or some lengthy lessons from you Sian.

 

I know - I get really upset by it.
The problem is, whist the property is mostly empty, some work, even bad work, is better than nothing. I am only here for 3 months of the year. Often he doesn’t come if he sees our car in the drive, and puts off his visit… When we finally move in, I will try to take him under my wing and teach him about pruning. If he takes it on board, great, otherwise it will be marching orders!

 

Just dont let him have anything with a motor or engine.

 

I don't know about the conifer , I am not the biggest fan as I think they always create a dead zone below them , but if you were to remove them you would want to remove as much of the roots as possible as conifer roots don't break down that fast , also you would need new soil for new hedging, as fruit trees research varitys that are suited best to your growing conditions sometimes old local varitys are the best , also look for apple trees with good disease resistance it's easyer that having to spray all the time , I see a garden centre in the county called pengethley garden centre maybe start there see what they have

 

Thank you @Bear1 . Yes, I don't like conifers either, so an excuse to replace it with a native mixed hedge would be good. The soil is very good, and topped up regularly with fresh goodness from the river at least once a year...
There are loads of local apple trees (but mainly cider types) as well as plum and Damson, (often growing wild in the hedgerows). I have never sprayed an apple tree yet, so don't plan to start now!
Pengethley Garden Centre is good, but I think they buy in the trees... I can always ask there