Fern hedge help...

Hi all,
I moved to a new house just before xmas,the occupiers had decked the back garden, and the wood was laid close to the fern tree/hedging, i have since lifted the decking and laid a lawn, but about 2 feet of the hedging was dead as the decking was covering it, i have cut all the dead bits off,and trimmed the hedge,as it was really bushy, do i need to give the hedge any special attention, feed etc, i think i cut it a tad more than i wanted and would like it bushy a wee bit, it doesn't get a lot of sun...any advise.

Thanks.

 

Welcome to the forum Mr Wilson.
Maybe I could help if I knew what fern tree / hedging was ?
What plant is this ?
And is the problematic 2' off the width or the length.
Do come back and tell us more.
I'm sure we can help.

 

Thanks for the reply..
Ok, it small fern trees being used as hedging is the only way i can describe them, small being 10 feet..
I cut the dead branches from the bottom of the tree, about 2/3 feet high and trimmed it, maybe moreso than i should, will it grow in width and can i help that process, they are still healthy ..

Thanks again..

 

I am sorry - I don't know what fern hedging is. Any chance you could post up a picture?

 

Heres the picture of the fern trees
Thanks for your help.

 

They're Leylandii conifers and not in brilliant condition by the looks of them either! At the base, you've cut into the 'dead' wood so it won't regrow from there. That's the problem with them - unless you keep up with the trimming, they turn into triffids, but a harsh cut and they sulk.

How would you feel about having them removed? They are also sucking the nourishment out of the soil under them, judging by the bare patches.

 

I certainly do NOT want to remove them,and i was looking for advise on helping them back to better health, the patches on my lawn are not anything to do with the tree taking all the nutrients,i laid a lawn a while back and cut it on the lowest setting and it skimmed the top of the turf in patches,before that it was really lush,thanks to the forum lessons have been learned...so anything i can do for them.

Thanks

 

I'm afraid I agree with Aaron, Mr Wilson. The "fern" trees are indeed Leylandii and unfortunately will not regrow from old wood unlike, for instance Yew,which will happily regenerate from a stump, albeit slowly.

I think your only course is to find some ground cover that will grow and thrive at the base of the trees. Sadly, as the Leylandi are thirsty and hungry feeders there is not much you can use successfully. Either have a look for plants that thrive in dry shade or wait until someone on the forum suggests something. I'm sure they will.:gnthb:

Chris