What quick growing tree will fill the gap of mydead 30 ft conifer?

My 30 yr old 20-30ft conifer has been removed leaving me looking at my neighbours houses. After years of being enclosed I find it unbearable. The tree caused no lack of light to the neighbours and they are as upset as I am. In fact the lady behing screamed at me for removing it but it was dead.

I am 60 yrs old and dont want to wait 20 yrs for it to grow so am ajusting myself to pay largish sums for the tree but dont want to be silly. I have got round to the fact it will cost me £200 - £300 at least if I want one with substantial height. My garden is south facing but the tree will be at the bottom so the neighbours half will be in the sun. My half will be shaded if this makes sense.

I am considering a leylandi as it grows 3 ft a year. It gets bad press but is it ok as a specimen tree or could I do better? It must be evergreen. Is a golden one a lot prettier.?

A cryptomeria was suggested but the tree specialist said I couldnt get one 14ft high. He also said it would grow 3 to 5 ft year. I this correct and is this a more beautiful tree.
He suggested a Thuja but is that because he has one in stock. Basically I want the nicest tree but if it is to take 10 yrs become the same height as the cheaper leylandi then I will go for the Leylandi. A 19ft leylandi is £290

What about bamboo planted next to it to widen the area covered. Will this interfere with the root system of the expensive tree.
I will try to post a photo of the gap. PS I havent been on this site for over a year as I couldnt work out the new system. Gosh its good to be back.

 

Please don't plant a Leylandii!:ntwrth: A Thuja would be much better if you want a fast growing evergreen. They are a bit more attractive and have an unusual smell, a bit like pineapple. I don't think bamboo is the answer either, as the fast growing ones are by nature invasive, and I doubt you want that.

You haven't said how much height you need to obscure your neighbour's house but if not too excessive, how about some sort of fence or screen? You could have trellis along the top and grow something much more attracive like clematis or other climber. I look forward to suggestions from others in the cheery Gardener's Corner band.

Chris

 

Hi Jean,

I cant offer advice on best options for screening, but as it appears the dead tree is missed by the community...have you thought of asking people to chip in to replace it? A couple of people donating towards a replacement would allow a bigger specimen to be planted..ie your £2-300 + donation..

Steve...

 

What about Hoheria Sexstylosa? Evergreen, fast growing. Nice white flowers.

http://www.malvaceae.info/Genera/Hoheria/Hoheria.html

 

check whether the price includes planting as this could cost as much as the plant or might be even more. 19' is one big tree and a big rootball requiring lifting, a big hole, and plenty og staking plus you will need to have the root of the old conifer removed.

Then I would go to either an arboreatum or a National Trust property local to you to find trees you like. Ask them for information about growth rates and suitability. They could also advise on local suppliers. I've found the local NT regional office very helpful in the past so I expect the head-gardeners would be as well.

 

as HBC said a near 20 foot tree may be expensive to plant, Im a self employed gardener and that is getting to the limit of what I could plant, you could pay £300 + I reckon.

If the old tree was 20ft wide I would think it may be best to plant a fast growing hedge (leylandii if you must) rather than one big specimen. Perhaps 5 or 6 largish Eucalyptus, or as said above a Thuja hedge. 6 ft Thujas would cost about £70 you would need maybe 7 to fill 20ft gap, if you were unable to plant a gardener would charge maybe £100-£150 (if there were no big obstacles to planting).
If conditions were good thuja would grow maybe a foot a year (I may be wrong here).

 

Thuja occidentalis ha a fast growing rate but responds well to clipping.

Chris

 

BTW, from what did you conifer die?

 

are you thinking it may be Cypress aphid...we saw lots of cases last year...it had never been a problem this far north untill fairly recently as fasr as i know.

 

Nothing in particular but knowing the reason could affect the type of replacement

 

I planted several Eucalyptus trees in my previous garden and they really grow quickly and tall and have most attractive dusty green leaves (coloured like leaves of olive trees) - depending on the space you have you could put in two or three and if one dies it would not be a disaster. Mine were really big and tall after 7 to 8 years and I would have thought small young saplings should not be overly expensive