Conifer hedge to boundary line

Hi all, I'm hoping someone could help!

We moved into our property 5 years ago and our neighbour has a conifer hedge on their side but when we moved in it took up a lot of space as the previous owner never cut it back on our side. We, not knowing anything about hedges etc, cut it back to gain some of our garden back but this has since caused it to go mostly brown on our side, the neighbour has said it is still green on theirs.

I'm sick of looking at the ugly brown mess that it is so got a quote from some tree surgeons who confirmed it was pretty much dead our side and they can cut it right back to the chain mail fence boundary line so we can put up a fence to try and cover it. My concern is that I don't want it to cause damage to the neighbours side, which they have assured me it wouldn't. I'd just like to know that this is true? I don't want to upset the neighbours as they are good neighbours but I also want MY garden to look how I'd like it and unfortunately that conifer is ruining my dream garden.
Many thanks for any advice!

 

Welcome Gemsie009.

Have your neighbours seen the conifers from your side?

The tree surgeon is right that the hedge is dying and unfortunately they don't produce new growth. It's only a matter of time before the same problem appears on your neighbours side. Even though it's their hedge I suggest you talk to them about replacing it with something else and possibly meeting them part way with the cost, if you feel inclined.

Conifers are hungry and thirsty plants that sap the soil of nutrients and water. If you were to put a fence in front of it, thinking perhaps you can grow plants your side, they probably wouldn't survive. If your neighbours are not willing to replace the hedge then my suggestion would be not to put a fence in front of it but a raised bed of up to 3ft in height. Plants of you own choice will then disguise the eyesore.

Some ideas for you on the link below.

raised bed images - Bing images

 

I think you can cut it back to the trunks/stems on your side, I doubt it would kill the hedge on their side.

You might struggle to get fence posts in because of all the roots but if you get someone in to put the fence up that won't actually be your problem.