Advice please

I have three evergreens at the back of the garden that (I think) are in need of some attention... exactly what attention, is yet to be decided...









As you will see, there is one branch in particular that is leaning out from the group (I think it is the middle of the three trees, but over the years they have merged together and become increasingly scruffy.

I was minded to simply cut that branch off, but I am concerned that it would leave a huge hole where it was. Whilst we would only see it when up that end of the garden, I am unsure that is the solution here.

As you will see, I savaged the laurel on the right today, as it had been getting out of hand again, and looking in from that side along the back of these trees, there is a lot of dry/dead stuff at the back and in the centres. I do now have an electric hedge trimmer, so could I potentially shape these trees a bit? I worry that there isn't much in the way of foliage to play with though.

Key points -
# I dislike these trees immensely, so everything up to and including removal is potentially on the cards here

# I don't think I could get a stump grinder in, let alone be fit enough to use something like that

# I rent, albeit very long term and have pretty much free will.. but, I would have to be able to honestly say they were end of life/hazardous to be able to justify removing these trees.

 

They don't have a main trunk sadly, or I would consider 'lollipop' style for them... I am very, very tempted to hack the bleedin' things out along with the laurel (I would leave the laurel root in the ground) and put in a couple of apple trees.

 

I'd get rid of them, but do they give you privacy? Could your neighbours see in once gone?

 

Even if taken back to a just above ground level stump?

Not as such, no - there are no onlooking neighbours to that side of the garden. That would also presumably only be an issue until whatever I plant there takes hold. Thinking apple, but also quite like the idea of a mock orange.

There is a lilac in the corner, hidden by those conifers to a large degree, but what sort of state it is in is anyone's guess.

 

I didn't even think to look at the tops! Sadly the trunks aren't really trunks, they are more stems than anything.. a couple of inches thick at best.

Hmmmm... I might have to play a slightly longer game here, as in.. not this summer but maybe next. We are in the process of going through the entire garden as it has gotten out of hand (don't judge me folks - health etc simply meant it got the better of me, and I then lost the will to continue) - so I am thinking get that straightened out and then seek out what powertools/help I will need. Getting them down, I could do today as I have the chainsaw... it is dealing with the ground.

I need to replant something here, because as I mentioned, I don't own this place.

 

Without a much closer look I'm not sure how to advise. They look like Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana Ellwoodii which tend not to have a single trunk. Conifers are notoriously difficult to prune because most of them do not regrow where they have been cut back to brown 'leaves'.

They would really need a reliable tree surgeon to give an opinion but they are likely to be expensive to remove. Even if it was just cutting them down and gradually taking them to the dump you never realise how much there is until its on the ground.

If you know someone who is tough and fit they could possibly dig out the stumps but they are more likely need to be stump ground.

Maybe @HarmonyArb would be able to advise further.

How time flies when you're enjoying yourself! That was nearly nine years ago . 22 Leylandii removed.

 

I'd likely burn them rather than take them to the dump if I am honest - I have an oil drum burner that I could use. The stumps/ground would be much more of an issue however

 

I've got a couple of shredders, and reckon the big one would take care of most of it and the thick stuff could become chimnea fodder. I won't get a chance to be near them until later in the week, but will try to get some closer photos of the trunks etc when I do. I had a peek in today and was surprised that there are a couple in there that are thicker than I thought, but not sure what it would 'buy me' in terms of options.
Landlady is great to be fair, but I just know if I involve her it will get really silly and she will likely spend a fortune, which then simply ends up on the rent.

 

I could I suppose - however, I also think that Mrs C would flip if I removed them and didn't replant. In fact, she could well be worse than the landlord. There is a fence, but condition is a bit of an unknown as it hasn't been seen for years. I can't inspect it from the other side as my neighbour and I have something of an agreement not to talk and not to kill each other.

EDIT - he is another reason I think 'something' needs to be there.