Leylandii thug!

I've looked around GC but couldn't find the previous threads on Leylandii.
So here we go again. I don't know if you remember me speaking about the damage my neighbours Leylandii has done to my drains, well we have claimed on insurance for the replacement of them, which is imminent.

Now, talking to my neighbour today, he has decided that the dreaded hedge is coming out late summer. :yess:
The hedge is 15ft high and 60ft long and we underplanted that 2 years ago with Hebe which I'd grown from cuttings, to take it's place. The Hebe's are now about 2 to 3ft high.

Now the question is which is the best way to go about it's removal please.
It'll be a joint effort between us. Ohhhhh! I so look forward to your replies. :happydance:

 

Although my favourite tool, after my secateurs, is a mattock. I wouldn't bother trying to dig that many out by hand. A digger, the biggest you can get in to the location is the answer, they're not that expensive. But, as Shiney says, the biggest problem is going to be the waste. There's going to be MASSES of it. A tree surgeon, with an industrial chipper is really the only way to go, unless you fancy a HUGE bonfire!

Good luck! Chris

 

Thanks Shiney and Boghopper.

My neighbours father has a truck to cart the stuff away.
My concern also, with a digger, is damaging the Hebe's that are growing inbetween.

 

Why not cut them down to 4ft and strip all the branches like Shiney suggested, and then just leave them there. You could use them to mark the line, and the hebes will sort of hide them anyway. Or just cut them as low to the ground as you can. Either way the stumps shouldn't be visible once your other shrubs grow around them. If you don't plan to dig the ground at the foot of the trees any time soon, as I guess you don't if you've already got established shrubs in there, then the dead roots will pose no problem.

 

Think as I see it at the moment (hard to visulise without photos) I would go with the down to ground level.. You can get a stump grinder but maybe you don't have enough room to get on to the stumps ..

Dave

 

I can only offer what happened when my Father and his neighbour removed some old apple trees (their houses had been built in what was once an apple orchard). Because some of them were close to the boundary fence between the two properties, they had to employ several methods.

Firstly most of the trees were chopped down to about 4', then a hole was dug around each stump (as much as you can around the stump of a large tree with its attendant root system), and those roots which could be severed were cut either by hand using axes, a chain saw, pickaxe or mattock etc.

The stumps of those trees furthest away from the boundary were removed using a block and tackle - not recommended in your situation, since although it removed the stumps fairly easily, the earth over 20' away moved as roots were dragged through the soil.

Other stumps were cut downwards with a chain-saw in a 'x' shape and, if I recall correctly, then just severed round about ground level.

Those trees which were right on the boundary were a 'joint effort' and since my Dad didn't want his garden disturbed too much, between them they dug down as far as possible on the neighbour's side, severed what roots they could get to, then cut the stump with a chain saw so that the top was slightly below ground level leaving just sufficient depth of soil to put in gravel boards before erecting a new fence.

 

Thanks again all,

It's all been taken on board and I will pass the info on to my neighbour.

Question: If the roots can't be removed will they die off when the stumps are removed please.

Pictures now attached. The die back is wind damage, so the hedge is not that healthy anyway. You can also just see the young Hebe's through the fence.

 

Thanks Shiney,
I'd just like to point out the pictures are taken from my garden, not my neighbours.

 

Get a professional tree surgeon in. Tell him to take them down to ground level and to treat the remaining stump with rootkiller.

 

Thanks everyone. I will pass this info on to my neighbour. It'll be his decision of course.

 

Leylandii.........update.

Well, my drains were replaced last week whilst away on holiday. Glad I wasn't here as concrete had to come up in my carport aswell. The noise!

The damage was a lot worse than first thought. I repeat, this is the second time in nearly seven years. The roots had also started to damage the foundations to our bungalow. I didn't expect that!

So, this is a warning to those of you that have or are considering planting this thug anywhere near your property. Or for that matter, those who have neighbours like me that have them.

I also repeat, my neighbour is removing the above pictured hedge at the end of the summer, which may well have damaged his property too.

 

Just thought I'd bring this thread back as there is another discussion going on-on a similar thread at the moment.

I will add to this, the foundations of my house had to be repaired also.