Dreaded Leylani

Help please !
I have 6 huge 30ft Leylandi trees in my garden and am not sure if this will be costly to have them chopped or how low to chop them without disturbing the wildlife that nests in them. My dad planted them and I now live in his home and they are over 30ft high. Problem is, im very broke and wondered if a council would be able to help or if its best to get lot of different quotes. Its my own property.
My neighbour has offered to pay half which is good of him but they are a nighmare and the grass is dying and they totally block the sun.
Any ideas please ?:cnfs:

 

If you need to have the tops removed it will be expensive to have a tree surgeon cut them down bit-by-bit. £500 at least I would guess.

If there is space to fell them at the base that would be a lot cheaper.

If the face of the hedge has never been clipped it will be very thick, and will look open and ghastly once the tops are cut off. If the faces have been maintained then cutting the tops off will bring it back to life, but you can't cut the face back into old wood (it won't sprout again), so it its very thick you really need to start again.

 

Thank you Kristen

 

Why don't you just chop them down? Make sure there is nothing breakable (including people) that they could land on. My dad and I did mine, we just put a rope on as high up as we could, then one of us sawed it down while the other pulled on the rope to make sure it went the right way, then we ran like hell when they started to go.

 

:D:D:D

 

:D:D can just see it!

 

I would check out the local rag for one of those people who do garden work rather than a tree surgeon for leylandii. I`ve gone and missed my chance again as birds are nesting in mine now but he quoted us £100 to take the top half off mine, and I won`t forget this autumn again-although what with the way money is at the moment it`ll probably be more expensive. Just make sure he is insured for tree work. I agree with taking it out completely if you can though.

 

Id sudgest getting them cut down rather than topped, they grow even more after topping and the work involved to top is often more than to fell only differance being more waste.

I rekon around £600 ish- £800 to fell.

 

The above posts just show why these vile Leylandii need to come with a Government Health Warning if anyone is considering buying them

"Warning, Leylandii will seriously damage your garden and your wallet" :hehe:

 

One other important point is Insurance. If you are having them cut down get your quote and then ask to see a copy of their current insurance and ring the company to check they have paid the premium. We found a few that get the new insurance certificate through and show this to prospective clients but they did not pay the premium so of course were not insured.
Likewise if you take them down yourself - get insurance first!

 

Only 6 you lucky so and so. I've got about 35mtrs worth. I'll be using a guy with a 3 ton mini digger @ £140 a day to rip them out and load them into a 20 ton truck at £120 per load...so I'll be looking to spend about £380 and have it done in a day which is pretty good in my books.

 

Hi maryinbrum,

I doubt the council will have anything to do with the trees unless they're on or near council property. Unfortunately I'd say you're either going to have to do it yourself (highly risky) or get someone in to do it for you (safer but costly). Firstly you need to decide definitely what you want to do - Have them completely removed or reduced in size. I'd opt for having them removed because as Pro Gard said they will grow back even worse. Get a few quotes off some local tree surgeons and discuss the price with your neighbour.