Evergreen Hedge (what is it?) and getting growth back

Just moved house and need advice on a hedge.

Firstly what is it (close up shot below)?



Secondly, is there any way to get growth back at the bottom?
Not sure why the previous occupants cut the greenery to half height, but they have!!!

Obviously the first step would be to remove the ivy, but I need to do something as it looks awful. The neighbours side is fine, btw, full height greenery!



Any advice is welcome.

Thanks.

 

lol - like the hedge!

:( sad news the hedge won't grow down below again. Its a conifer, and once the lower growth has been removed or died, it won't grow back. Thats the nature of conifer.

I would suggest to let the ivy grow up the trunks, to give a green background, and I would cut into the lawn slightly, and plant some plants in front to cover up the bareness.

Hope that helps!

 

Most probably its Cupressus Leylandii.

I don't want to be a party pooper but ... my advice is fell it and start again (and don't plant Leylandii)

On the bright side at least the tops have been maintained. There were three Leylandii hedges here when we moved in 2.5 years ago, all over 20' tall and 8' to 10' thick.

I don't think you can do a one-sided-rescue, from the looks of it, but there is a picture in my Blog of a Leylandii hedge that was rescued in that way - http://kgarden.wordpress.com/2008/11/27/reviving-a-leylandii-hedge/

Not much grows at the foot of a Leylandii hedge :( and there is a risk that the top will get brown patches and die out too :(

If it happens that it is Thuja you might be able to get it to grow back, and if it was Yew you could just hack it back and it would come again.