Conifers

Hi all can someone advise...

Parents have moved to new property with conifers in both neighbours gardens...

They want to know when they can trim them back with out causing dieback.

 

waht kind, do you know? Basically - if they're yews, the answer is different from the others - you can cut back yew as far as you like, whenever you like and it'll be ok. With all the others, you need to make sure you don't cut back into the brown, as it'll never regenerate and recover.

 

we believe that they are the dreaded leylandi...

they have been trimmed but thye need tidying up again. Parents are concerned, about them killig them or turning them brown.

 

surely if they're leylandii they'd be doing everyone in the neighbourhood a favour by killing them!! Seriously though - advice as above - if you cut back into the brown, they won't re-generate, and they'll look awful, although if the neighbours don't do the same, the conifers won't die, and your parents will be left with an unsightly mess. If I were in their shoes, I'd introduce myself to the neighbours and have a chat about it.....

 

Given the choice parents would prune all conifers to 6inches...or less..

Seriously neither of the new neighbours like gardening so they have grown the dreaded Leylandi.. and other conifers so garden is green all year...

So if I have understoood correctly they can trim back the green but dont go into the brown...

Can this be done at any time?

 

yes - haven't ever had problems that way - just can't stand the trees! Unless they have the proper amount of space to grow, I'd rather not have any conifers, to be honest. Big parks and estates let you see what the trees are meant to be like - like at the Valley Gardens in Windsor Great Park - not so incredibly far from you, Nic S!

 

Bedgebury Pinetum is nearer Nic S.

 

Leylandi can be pruned back to the boundary line, and seem to recover well from hard pruning. Me I dislike them unless they are kept low and trimmed, and even then they are just a tad boring. Unfortunately one of my neighbours has planted a row against my fence - won't affect the light, but are likely to affect my roses - they are greedy and thirsty thugs. Ah well, as I am uphill, maybe all will be well.

 

good luck, Fran - pinch all the water!

 

:D :D I am keeping fingers crossed that that will be the case - and not a trace of guilt :D :D