leylandis

have2flushtwice

going to plant a few leylandis this winter, prob in the next few weeks. any tips?
they arent too near the house, close to the shed (approx 30 feet) there is a bad ditch on one side, hopefully when the trees are big enough, the ditch will come out of it and a two strand wire fence will go in instead.

on the other side there is a wire fence, this will have to be moved out a bit to keep the trees safe from cattle.
there is about 50 yards of a ditch to plant. how far apart should I go between trees?

have2flushtwice

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/flower-mill/horrible-huge-leylandi-hedges_67940.html

actually after reading this..... maybe not

JohnBoy

have2flushtwice wrote: »

any tips?

Yeah, dont do it

They're horrible nasty yokes that'll either need constant trimming to keep under control, or severe butchery that takes years to recover from if you let them get out of hand, or they'll get too big in 20-30 years time and just fall over.

what's wrong with the current ditch?

JohnBoy

I spent too long replying

Cavanjack

Any tips? Yeah don't plant them. Horrible yolks IMO. Had them planted here for years, never really cut them and they just grew out of control. Cut them all down a few years ago. Hate the sight of them.

yellowlabrador

Mr. Leyland, the one responsible for hybridizing this tree reputedly said that he hoped people wouldn't plant them in an ordinary garden. I know a few specimens near here that are absolutely massive, at least 30 m tall and really ugly.and the thing is, they aren't that old in tree terms about 80 years old.

have2flushtwice

the current ditch is old and not maintained. there are one or two trees in it, and also one ash. there is no shelter to the yard either. Perhaps a laurel hedge will be better idea? in the next few years I will be building a house close enough to it to see it every day, so i want something that will work for me, as the current ditch is fine for a farmyard, but an eyesore for a house!

nashmach

have2flushtwice wrote: »

the current ditch is old and not maintained. there are one or two trees in it, and also one ash. there is no shelter to the yard either. Perhaps a laurel hedge will be better idea? in the next few years I will be building a house close enough to it to see it every day, so i want something that will work for me, as the current ditch is fine for a farmyard, but an eyesore for a house!

Don't go with leylandiis - pure hardship and unless well maintained can get unruly.

Go with laurel or privet or perhaps some beech IMV.

A nice holly hedge looks well too but may not be practical in your situation.

JohnBoy

what about getting the current ditch laid. could be the best of both worlds, restore it to a thick growth in a few years, stockproof and then keep it maintained with a flail going forward.

otherwise I'd plant some whitethorn, and maybe fuschia to get colour at both ends of the year.

wouldnt be mad on laurel myself either, have some in the garden (not far from the giant lleylandii as it happens) and I'm just not in love with it.

Username John

have2flushtwice wrote: »

the current ditch is old and not maintained. there are one or two trees in it, and also one ash. there is no shelter to the yard either. Perhaps a laurel hedge will be better idea? in the next few years I will be building a house close enough to it to see it every day, so i want something that will work for me, as the current ditch is fine for a farmyard, but an eyesore for a house!

Hello,
I want to plant a hedge as well this year - same as yourself, around the shed & field rather than the house, but they will be beside / visible from the house.

Have a look here (I know nothing about the company, so this isn't an endorsement for them, more a source of information)
Scroll down the bottom of that page, they have some stuff listed for shelter, and some mixes...
I was half thinking of getting something along the lines of the REPS mix...
Plus - they list their prices, which is always useful.

hillclimber

Future forrests are excellent, good quality plants at very competitve prices. Why not try one of their hedge mixes with native species, much more natural to look at, stock proof eventually and good for the birdeens.:)

countryjimbo

I second that on Future Forests, I've used them many times, great value, always a great service and plants arrive in perfect condition.

Belongamick

Have you considered Western Red Cedar as an alternative?