Leylandii hedge removal (wexford/waterford border)

DRedSky

hi all,

Need to get rid of 80-100 feet of leylandii hedge. Its only 5.5 feet tall and is browned in parts and cut back so not overly wild/bulky.

Quoted 3,000 plus 1,500 to grind out the stumps (to plant new hedge i need them gone).

But he did suggest digging out the stumps instead of paying him for stump grinding.

Anyone any suggestions about which would be better (in terms of value but also in terms of making it easier to plant the new hedge) ? To pay someone with a mini digger to remove stumps? Or pay 1500 for stump grinding?

Its on a small “bank”/slope so I’m even wondering about getting a large quantity of soil “dumped” on top of the bank and letting stumps rot and planting new hedge in the fresh soil mound. But would the new mound slide away over time? Meh, i don’t know what way to go about it all.

Any thoughts?

Calahonda52

Best to remove as much as possible of the roots, grinding will leave the roots

Post a picture pls?

How well developed are they.

If not too far gone, then, a combination of a tractor and digger is the way to go.

Tractor pulls the trees from the highest point to put pressure on the roots and the digger works the roots from the back, tractor pull will eventually pull out most of them.

I did something similar with 15 foots, cut off all the branches first and then used a tifor to create the strain and dug them out by hand from behind: once the roots were exposed and under strain, they cut easily with a cordless shark saw

DRedSky

thanks Calahonda for the help, oh yes they’re well established alright, they’re there a long time according to neighbours. Just kept cut short but well established.

I’ll stick up a photo shortly. There’s 60 of them in say roughly 90 feet.

I don’t want to lose the “bank” they’re growing in either as it helps with privacy. Photo to follow shortly…

Wanderer78

id be going with the digger rather than the grinder, just get rid of the bastering things, awful plant, best of luck

DRedSky

..

Calahonda52

Thanks

is the field behind same level as top of your bank?

Is it a boundary?

DRedSky

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123272527#Comment_123272527

not a boundary technically (its 100% ours) but its important for privacy. No the field is not level with top of the bank, theres a slope there too but it would be much less of a slope from the field side, by say 50% less. If that makes sense.

Farmer who owns the field is dead sound and happy for us to work it from his side.

Calahonda52

Would he let you bring in a 14/20 tonne tracked digger if u dont have access

DRedSky

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123272660#Comment_123272660

fair question, i asked him could i have access to remove the hedge for whoever was doing the job and he said yeah no problem.

I didn’t specifically mention a digger so I’d have to ask him to cover myself. But i’d be hopeful/confident that he would.

Are you thinking it would make shite of the field?

Calahonda52

Yes if its wet, if a big digger, which I think that will need.

The 14/20 tone tracked will compress the soil (I have current direct experience of this!)

so if u can get it in your side better as you are pulling with the slope and not trashing his fields

IMO a small 3 tonne, which is the normal self drive rental and the one most guys tow around behind a van/ small truck, is too weak.

The key IMO is use the leverage of the height, most guys cut them down first and then fcuk around with the stump.

You could do a lot of branch removal with a cordless shark saw and have a clear view of the scale of the issue.

I have done ones with a car to create the strain, care required not to burn the clutch but can be done, if no tow bar use the towing eye in front

DRedSky

fair play, it’s not something i had thought of. I really appreciate the info and advice calahonda!
thanks! 😊

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123273279#Comment_123273279

No worries, a friend with a jeep would do also

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058402989/leylandii-hedge-removal-wexford-waterford-border

these cannot be recycled and thats the expensive part

BorneTobyWilde

Is there access for a truck and trailer

Calahonda52

these cannot be recycled and thats the expensive part

what do u mean?

Sid 1984

Had similar issue last year; the hedge was 60 feet long and ITR of 9 feet high and 7-8 feet deep in places.

Originally a Leylandii hedge, but over time became infested with briars. There was also a concrete post/wire fence embedded in it as well. Absolute mess.

Gardiner/Landscaper took one look - "Hymac & tractor & trailer"

Guy came in with excavator (we got go-ahead from adjacent field owner for access) and within a few hours the whole lot was gone; roots, fence and all. Slowest part of the process was waiting for the trailer to come back after emptying.

Left with a lovely clean blank slate to start again.

Big digger definitely the way to go.

Sit with a mug of tea & watch it operate…. mesmerising 🤣

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123277494#Comment_123277494

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123277494#Comment_123277494

Had these removed from front garden 12 months ago and cost circa €8500. The bulk was for landfill charge as Not Posable to recycle these. I will never miss these trees as they blocked all daylight

we had to leave the stumps in place as over the far side of the small wall there was water mains and under ground cables etc.

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123277751#Comment_123277751

the stumps yes but not the rest, smal;ered stuff can be chipped and the bigger stuff b urned as firewood

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123277751#Comment_123277751

that'd raise the question - are you sure they were landfilled, after you paid the price to have them landfilled?

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123277751#Comment_123277751

You were sold a lie then, they are as recyclable as any other greenery.

OP if you just get the hedge stripped back to the trunks they won't regrow and will rot away themselves. May be feasible to plant the new hedge between the existing stumps rather than pulling them out.

magicbastarder

OP if you just get the hedge stripped back to the trunks they won't regrow and will rot away themselves

based on my experience, that will take some time. i left a leylandii stump about three foot tall after taking it down in the garden, in early 2014 - i drilled holes all over it thinking it might attract insects - and it's still there. still reasonably sturdy too.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123278235#Comment_123278235

True some will take longer than others, main thing is they will stop drawing moisture and nutrients from the soil so won't affect a new hedge if it can be planted amongst them.

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123278235#Comment_123278235

I agree, they take decades to rot, in any event these are so close together will be impossible to replant, as OP intends, between them.

DRedSky

thanks everyone for replies. Had another fella come look at it and hes saying he wants to use digger but he needs to find out who will accept the waste that cannot be mulched (roots etc) as he estimates 5 dump loads of it.
He hasn’t priced it yet til he confirms he has a place to put the roots etc after digging them.

He will make sure the “bank” / mound gets put back compacted so that i can still plant new hedge in it.

So overall i love the sound of his plan but the problem is we lack a big hole/field to put all these roots/waste in.

So im waiting for him to ring me. He was out the night before last so i guess give him a week before i ring him.

Thanks all!