Decorating Leyandladii

Hello all

I'm new here, and have just posted a greeting in the newbies' forum. I hope that here is the right place for a post about hedging...

Alongside my drive is about 12 metres of Leylandii hedging, separating us from next door. This had been neglected and grown to about 8 feet high, and quite wide. Last year I trimmed it back down to head height, and narrowed it, but unavoidably I've cut back to the brown, and the thing now looks pretty horrible. In the fullness of time I'd like to pull it out and replace with laurel, but as a temporary measure I'm thinking of planting some climbers to grow through and over it. Can anyone suggest what an attractive and reasonably fast-growing plant (or plants) to cover it, bearing in mind that it does run alongside next door's garage and derelict boat, so Virginia Creeper may not be an option! I'm not concerned if it strangles the life out of the Leylandii.

I actually have lengths of Leylandii hedge running all the way down one side of the garden. I cut back a stretch that had grown to over 12 feet, to half that height, but obviously that's pretty straggly as well, and will need dealing with when I have the time.

We're in a rural setting so everything is a little raggedy.

Cheers
Richard

 

...sorry for the gratuitous typo in my previous post

 

Russian Vine might work. The problem with Leylandii is their ability to suck the moisture and nutrients out of the surrounding ground, but Russian Vine is well know for it's ability to cover an ugly or unsightly building (or trees!) in a short space of time. Warning, it will take over in no time at all.

Do you have the sun on your side of the hedge?

 

Hi, thanks for the reply. I'm familiar with Russian Vine - I once planted two small plants against a back yard wall and watched them put on an inch and a half *a day* in a hot summer, before taking over next door's garage. I think it's probably too vigorous for the job (plus, to be honest, her indoors had banned it).

The whole front aspect is open and south-west facing, so the hedge gets lots of sun.

I was thinking maybe clematis or honeysuckle?

Cheers
Richard

 

Climbing nasturtiums would solve your problem for this year and should do well in the poor soil at the bottom of your Leylandi.

 

...or a climbing hydrangea? Would that ramble over a hedge or does it need a wall to cling to? I had to cut one down completely that had eaten my utility room. That was quite vigorous.

Cheers
Richard

 

They look quite attractive in the pictures I'm looking at. They're annual? Does one just poke seeds into the ground, and is now a good time to do it, or am I too late?

Cheers
Richard

 

Just seen your new post Richard.
If you're thinking clematis then montana and tangutica are both thugs that would cover a big area in the first year. But I find the problem with clematis is that it wants to run for height and you get a great display at the top with poor coverage at the bottom.
You could infill at the bottom with honeysuckle.
That's what i'm doing with the fences I'm trying to hide.

 

Hi Richard. Yes the climbing nasturtiums are annuals. You can plant them now straight into the ground or start them in a seed tray then single them out and plant them once they have true leaves.
I usually soak the seeds overnight before planting - they come faster.
If you decide to grow some don't forget to harvest the seeds for next year.
I got a great display with them on a fence last year and have this years lot in.
I'll try and find a pic.

 

I'll do that now, I think, and maybe plant some clematis after the summer. I'm just fiddling round the edges at the moment, as I have a lot to do to the house itself, but the brown Leylandii is an eyesore.

Cheers
Richard

 

What about Datura's......they are fast growing and the flowers are incredible.

 

Thanks everyone.

Ultimately, when i have time, I'd like to pull the blasted stuff out. What I have is six foot tall stems planted about 2 feet apart. Quite woody but not tremendously thick. Would I be right in thinking that Leylandii is not that well rooted? My plan involved loosening the earth around the roots with a fork, then a 4x4 and a rope... ;0)

Cheers
Richard

 

You're right about leylandi roots Richard. They don't go any real depth - very surface rooted. If you just chopped round about them with a spade and an axe for the thicker bits you'd pull them out no bother. They won't regrow from any bits of root left in the ground.

 

I thought that Leylandi rooted quite deep as you rarely, if ever, see any blown over.

Get rid of the stumps as they can form a nice home for honey fungus.

Cut down and replace with laurel. not the most imaginative but inexpensive, quick to establish and grow, evergreen, will regrow if cut back, hardy. Pot grown canbe planted now if you keep it well watered