Leylandii?

15 months ago I bought two leylandii - 5mtrs high. Yes I know people don't like them - but if you had an 8 mtr high house built 3 ft from your boundary (32mtrs away) you would want some screening. They are planed 20ft from the boundary so won't overhang.

Anyway - with that out of the way - these leylandii are not like any I have previously encountered. They are covered with cones (round seed pods) and the ends of every branchlet is covered in a pollen sac - when you brush past the pollen is released in a cloud. They also don't seem to be growing very fast - so far about 4 inches in 15 months. Is it possible that these are something other than leylandii and if so what could they be?

Thanks

Ann

 

My Leylandii have never, ever produced cones or pollen sacks in the 10 years I've been here, and the trees were already present and established when I moved in. My guess is that they are not Leylandii.

 

And why on earth did someone build that close to your property. They sound like some other sort of fir tree (hopefully not so insidious).

 

Why did someone build that close to our boundary. Hm - well the cards were stacked in his favour. He is Vice Cbair of the Planning Committee. As he said to me "I can do whatever I like" and it seems that he could. No appeal was accepted. I was lucky - on the other side he completely blocked in a small bungalow - about 6 ft away - that now has hardly any access to its drive. Unfortunately the owner is a very elderly frail man - and wasn't up to making a fuss. You would be amazed a what developers can get away with in my district. Anyway - hence the need for fast growing trees!

 

Picture (of tree, and close up of cones) might help with ID :thumb:

 

Chair of the planning committee or not, he still has to follow the planning procedure. There is a right to appeal, and I believe you can escalate that if you feel that the outcome of the local one is biased.

 

The theory is good. His friends\colleagues voted it through on the nod. Planning Officer wouldn't even do me the courtesy of a site visit was told "we don't have to take your concerns into account - your house is more than 11 meters away". The appeal came to nothing - the press picked up on it and the Council closed ranks - I got nowhere.

Anyway - it is done and dusted and I have a huge house right across my rear boundary - hence the need for large trees. I have spent over £2.5K on planting to lessen the effect - but the trees don't seems particularly happy. We had very strong winds shortly after they came into leaf - all the new leaves turned brown and died - I have been feeding every 4 weeks with Phostrogen to try and bring them back into leaf but so far without success. The two "leylandii" I was sold are also just not moving which I find very strange. As I said initially they are covered with cones and pollen sacs. I think the growth over the last 15 months has been about 4 inches, although I didn't expect much growth for a while after they were planted. They look like leylandii, but somehow don't if you know what I mean. I will try and get some photos and post on here. (PS leylandii aren't always bad!):wink:

 

Totally agree with you - if planted appropriately they can look fantastic. But so many people look for quick growing in a small garden and end up with a row of triffids.

Pics are needed. If you have problems posting them here (some do!) message me and I'll give you my email address so you can send them and I'll post them for you:thumb:

 

Thanks very much! I have to do my weekly trip round the M25 today - just off so will take photos tomorrow and put them up. Thanks again to everyone for help.

Ann

 

Hi - I am sorry but haven't been able to take photos of the trees - (think I need a new camera!). A neighbour tells me the trees are leylandii, but look as if they have been stressed and hence they have produced a lot of cones which they wouldn't normally do. He has advised me to give them a feed of sulphate of ammonia - 1oz in 2 gallons of water per tree. Does this sound right?

Thanks
Ann

 

I don't think they are lleylandii. Are they lawson's cypress?

 

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