conifer trees

Have a massive hedge of the trees and they have got quite high about 10 ft at the tallest and about 6ft wide. I have attempted to cut them last year and they went brown , so i let them grow but they looked a mess. Ive tried to cut one bit of it today, and made total bodge looks horrendous cos I cant cut straight and the branches are so thick in places. I need to leave these in place as it sections the huge garden into seperate pieces.

Is there an easy way to cut these things. Im hopless with a hedge cutter but no one else to do them.

 

Hi jellybuttonspog

Conifers are a nightmare to cut if they haven't been properly and regularly maintained previously. As a tree surgeon I have encountered countless conifer hedges in all sorts of states and they are very rarely straight forward to work with. They are not a native British tree and should never have been introduced into this country, esopecially not into our urban areas!

First off, if they are as thick and heavy as you suggest then you're not going to do much of a job with a hedgetrimmer, you may need to get a professional arborist in who has the right equipment. Phone around, get a few quotes. Either that or you're just going to have to get a friend over to keep a level for you as you continue to cut them best you can.

Failing that you can remove them altogether and plant anew, keeping them regularly trimmed so they do not grow out of control.

All the best,
Matthew

 

As above,

Its a chainsaw job and needs skill to do properly. A lot of the skill of topping substantial leylandi is in judging the weight of the side branches so when cut they spring up enough to cover the cut main trunk. The comonest sighn of Diy cutting is a visible main trunk with jagged side branches and or sides cut into dead wood.

If you do get them topped and the waste chipped, the chippings are a fantastic acidic multch for camelias, rodedendrons and other acid lovers.

Remember you cant cut the sides back too much or your into dead growth that wont ree sprout.

 

Just to show whats possible profeshionally, heres a job i dida few weeks back:

 

Thanks for the advice. To be honest think I knackered them last year cos they went brown and havent recovered. Not sure what to do , cant afford to get anyone in.
Great before and after pics

Maybe I should take a pic of my after and the before of the rest that needs doing.