Along a hedge I have a group of five forty-year-old laylandii. Three have died, probably because they were over-run by ivy. I'm going to pull them out. But what can I put in their place? I want something fast growing. It doesn't matter about the new ones being intruder-resistant because I'm also going to have a strong fence along there.
Bill
Datstest grwires are...leylandii.
You might try bay if you want a fast growing evergreen
Or bay laurel.
Even yew is not that slow - 4"-8" a year.
Don't plant holly. You will be dead before it grows and box is another slow grower too.,
Well, that's tactful.
Owain
Yes, leylandii are the datstest grwires :-) Besides, it would look odd to have something different there.
But it would be worth improving the soil where the old ones were. After 45 years it will be pretty impoverished. Dig in plenty of compost before you plant the new ones, either your own garden stuff if you make it or a bag or two from your local garden centre.
Willow. Can grow 5 ft in four months.
Owain
How are you going to "pull them out"? Are you going to get pros in who will cut them down, saw/shred, and then stump grind what's left (including the stumps of the dead trees)?
Once the stumps and roots have been ground, you will find the soil left is several times the volume it was before the grinding process, and is at a much higher level. It will take some time, and a lot of rain, to return it to normal. Then, what you plant will struggle a bit as the composting process for the ground stump removes nitrogen from he soil. Adding some general fertiliser when you plant the trees should help.
As to fast-growing plants to consider, have a look at eucalyptus. There are various species and varieties, all of which are hardy and evergreen, and you can leave them to grow or pollard/stool them if you want.
Could somebody explain to the Holly in my neighbours garden that it is supposed to grow slowly? It keeps on pushing its way through the fence and it aint arf sharp on the leaf spikes!
Brian
I agree it would have looked *very* odd had it said "fastest growers". Not at all natural.
Nice thick foliage Cypress - Thuja Plicata. A bit slower growing than Leylandii but really looks nice trimmed, and only have to do it once per year. Added bonus of loverly Cypress smell.
Planting leylandii in the same position might be asking for trouble since whatever killed the originals may still be lurking there. Soil fungi pathogens specific to that species is a possibility and the soil will be drained of all the nutrients that leylandii prefer. I can't imagine what it takes to kill a laylandii. I can't see ivy managing to do it. Strangler fig might.
Beech isn't a bad relatively fast growing hedge. Cotoneasters have nice berries. Lonicera nitida is a fast grower and clips well. Yew is fairly slow (toxic) and holly is slower still. Chunks of about 3m all the same can look good if you have a long run of hedging and want have something less monotonous than a monoculture of one planting.
Holly will eventually get there I allow a few to grow in my hedge along with wild rose, ivy and honeysuckly. I reckon they take about 15 years from seed to get to full hedge height and another 5 to thicken out.
Sorry - not Cypress - its Ceder!
Willow doesnt hedge.
If you want deciduous, beech (or hornbeam on wet heavy clay) is fast and attractive.
Hawthorn and blackthorn are traditional
Its amazing what camn be made into a hedge. Euonymous, maple,cotoneasters of soem forms, pyracanthas...Viburn tinus is a fast grower and nice to look at. Berberis. Even Osmanthus.
Fast growing = leylandii. If you're not using those, pick some nice edibles & you get lots & lots of free yummy food as well.
If you're putting a fence in too, climbers are one other option.
NT
+1, but it's not fast growing.
and it will self seed all around your garden.
I think Leylandii would be the fastest growing but make sure the originals didn't die of that disease that attacks leylandii
Half this group will be dead before laylandii grow ;o)
I'm hoping they will come out if I put a chain on them and tug them with the tractor. Trouble is they are near a retaining wall so the wall might be damaged.
Are you going to get pros in who
No I'll just put them on the bonfire heap.
I'm wondering if I sould dig a big hole and put some compost and that in.
Oh, I'll have a look.
Bill
Last time I went to the garden centre (this year) Leylandii 'shrubs' were on sale for £75 each !.
The Brexit half or the Remainer half ? :-)
even that Kubota is going to struggle removing the stump of a
45-yo leylandii.Tip for Bill. Leave about 6 foot sticking out above ground, so you have something to apply leverage after you have dug around the base and chopped the roots with an axe.
Or hire a bloke with a stump grinder.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.