planting leylandii

[S Train]

We have just planted 5 ft Leylandii to form a hedge (18) approx two foot apart and watering twice daily. They are in well turned soil. How long will we have to wait for a reasonable "bushiness" to form as we are panicking we have planted too far apart. Anyone?

[hinge1967]

Two foot apart!!!!!! You have NOTHING to worry about. Trimming at the desired height will encourage bushiness.

[BillyNoMates]

Please tell me that you didn't plant Leylandi ?

All very well at the time. With the law that is now in force you will in years to come have a huge job on your hands complying. Those trees have horrendous growth and I think you may have been missold a tree like that for a fast growing hedge.

Beware of the consequences.

[jake-the-peg]

Sounds like you've lit the blue touch paper to me!

Decide how tall you want them and trim them to that height regularly otherwise they will run riot, take all the light, burgle your house, steal your car, eat all the food in your fridge and then burp little green fronds on the lawn!

[snoteater]

Not Leylandii !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you don't have neighbours - they can grow to immense height and they devour young children. Dig them up now!!!!!!!!Please save everyone the grief before you end up in court, lose all your friends and have to emigrate.

[Robinia]

Sharp intake of breath.....

No, they're not too far apart.  Hopefully though they are far, far away from my garden.  Sorry STrain but they are very unpopular & some councils are trying to ban them altogether I believe.

[hinge1967]

Well maintained (ie clipped twice a year) the make an excellent hedge, but grow and grow and grow. I heard that they were only created in the 1920's and and no-one is yet sure how high they grow.

What I can tell you is that my parents live in a house on a hillside over looking what used to be moorland (know housing) and the view continues onto the bay They are about 25 foot above their road and beyond that are more houses lower down the hill, with Gardens that are aboiut 10 foot lower than the road, so its all stepped, do you get the picture?

Well, the horrid woman who lives in front planted Leylandii to screen her back garden in the early 80's. They grew and grew until the trees began to block the road and completly obscured the view. Not only that but a light and airy lounge became very dark and dingy, They were at least 45 foot high before the Council threatened to take her to court.

She had them doctored and its better now, but she did plant ANOTHER row of them in front, which wont block the road, but will grow to obscure the view again. Thank goodness for the new legislation.

[S Train]

oh my god!!! thanks to all those people who replied to Leylandii query. This is what happens when you let your other half loose at the garden centre.
Luckily no neighbours and partner is young fit and strong and will be keeping on top of looking after them, ill see to that. Only wanted small hedge to stop people gawping in when doing workout and looks like he's unleashed a monster on me.
Thanks guys, anyway if they do take over can always leave partner and Leylandii to live happily ever after...Sharon.

[Robinia]

Oh dear Sharon, men eh?!!
You'll both be able to work out until you're the size of King Kong & rest assured, nobody's going to be able to see you behind those!!
All the best!

[grannyg]

Snap the trunks now!! That will save you backbreaking work year after year, they take a lot of looking after and if you get fed up with them in a few years and decide to remove them they and the roots they produce are horrendous to get rid of.

[smiley389]

I have yet again woken up to the loss of most of my hedge in the high winds we have experienced overnight. And i was thinking of putting Leylandi in, but only have a small garded. DOes anyone have nay idea what i can plant instead please? Money a premium!

[smiley389]

Please ignore the previous thread. It was my fence that has gone down, and I want to replace with a hedge!