Huge Leylandii hedge

If they will not remove it but agree to cut it back to 2m then the job is done anyway
and the client will not see the dead stumps behind the 6' fence

Jack McH

 

I don't think Leylandii will die if cut back to 2M if it has lower branches that are "green"

Have a look at this "revived leylandii hedge" on my blog. I don't remember it from before, but judging by the size of the trunks that were cut off it was "pretty big".

It now looks jolly smart, but only on one side (but given the wooden fence on the "back side" that would be fine I expect)

http://kgarden.wordpress.com/2008/11/27/reviving-a-leylandii-hedge/

 

I'd love to hear the outcome of this.

While I sympathise with your client, at the same time, part of me wonders how it got to this point anyway. Ok, so the Leylandii may not have been there when she bought the property, 20 years is enough for Leylandii to do that. But for the last few years she must have noticed that the trees were getting too big for their boots. Maybe she should have had words at that point when the rectification would have involved one man with a good pair loppers on a pair of step ladders, rather than leaving it until it became a job for professionals with all the gear (and big bills).

 

the law states that the maximum height must be 2 meters (when you calculate this specific case with the spreadsheet I supplied on the link)

so, Leylandii grows pretty fast .... I very much doubt that they will prune it regulary, and ensure that it does not exceed 2m in height

as for the hedge law, that only came into effect a few years ago .... the lady bought the home 20 years ago, and the hedge was already there, but it was a lot lower

she was unaware that there is a hedge law, and it is only after I told her on my 1st visit, that she decided to see if she can get the hedge removed

she was in contact with the company, and was told that someone would contact her .... no one has contacted so far, and it has been a few months

 

How big is the hedge? It's hard to tell from that photo.

My local has one adjoining the car park, 60-65 feet in places. It looked quite impressive but totally impractical so was reduced...to about 40 feet

I've always thought it wasn't particularly the fault of the home owner but the fault of the suppliers in the early years who didn't really know what they were selling but 'quick hedging solution' 'cheaper than a fence' sounded too good to be true to a lot of people.

 

the hedge runs the full length of the property (including the front yard) .... (not much garden in the front, and is mainly concrete slabs)

the house side wall (foundations) are approx 1 1/2 meters away from the hedge

not sure of the exact height of the hedge, but it could be close to 20 feet high

I have no doubts that the company knows that the hedge will have to be reduced or removed, and they possibly are just stalling things .... it will cost a lot of money to get that sorted

The client wants the garden sorted ASAP, as she may be looking at selling at the end of this year

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1502847/Tall-leylandii-law-is-unenforceable.html

This article seems to suggest the "Law" on control of Leylandii is un-enforceable.
The fee payable to the Council seems excessive and the need to "Prove" the prior negotiations with the opposing party is working FOR the owner of the hedge.
I read that the Council are only likely to insist on a 1/3 reduction, which would not resolve the issue and the claimant would still have the need to trim their side of the hedge - something that may be impractical due to height.
It seems a "No-Win" situation to me.
It will cost the Company involved several £,000's to remove the offending trees, so where is the incentive when the law is so un-supportive of any claim.?

 

here is the official law as regards hedges and light loss

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/hedgeheight.pdf

 

here is a photo from another part of the garden, showing the proximity of the hedge to the house

 

that article is from 2005

 

thanks Shiney ... it will be interesting to see the outcome ... I will update when I get more news

 

Hadn't occurred to me, but of course its entirely logical that you could do the same "renovation" on both sides