Lleylandii hedge removal?
Discussion
Hi we have a lylandii hedge which is at least 50 years old, we’ve topped it several times so it’s about 6m high now but the spread is at least 10m and trunks are big. The centre top is a mess and the other side is overgrown carnage so I’m going to take the lot down.
Question: how far down do the roots go one these?
The photos don’t really show the length but it’s about 20m total and I can get to both sides ok.
Question: how far down do the roots go one these?
The photos don’t really show the length but it’s about 20m total and I can get to both sides ok.
I had to remove several old leylandii stumps and roots from our front garden when we moved in - the trees were already gone but were apparently about the same size as yours appear to be, perhaps a little bigger.
I found the roots don't go down far but do spread wide (and stay thick) - I ended up having the core stump ground out and then dug out the remainder by hand. Let's just say I had a more toned body by the end of the experience than I did at the start.
I'd hire a man and a digger if i ever had to do it again.
I found the roots don't go down far but do spread wide (and stay thick) - I ended up having the core stump ground out and then dug out the remainder by hand. Let's just say I had a more toned body by the end of the experience than I did at the start.
I'd hire a man and a digger if i ever had to do it again.
I bought a knackered digger and overhauled just about everything on it, and just got a ‘micro bucket’ ie a 75mm wide 700mm long bucket shaped like a sharks tooth which is meant mainly for cable trenches. They say you should only use a ‘ripper’ bucket for roots but they’re only 300mm long and the micro can hook round deeper roots and wreck them so seems like a no brainer.
Since my first post I’ve just tested it on a very old Berberus root and it worked well, so I’ll use that bucket if the roots are relatively shallow.
Not sure what to replace it with yet, possibly Portuguese Laurel and keep it to a manageable height.
The bonfire will be huge!
Since my first post I’ve just tested it on a very old Berberus root and it worked well, so I’ll use that bucket if the roots are relatively shallow.
Not sure what to replace it with yet, possibly Portuguese Laurel and keep it to a manageable height.
The bonfire will be huge!
The stumps will be easy to remove, but leave a 3 or 4 foot stump, then you've lots of leverage ... mistake is to saw off at the bottom. , I've just done two , took about 1 hour each by hand . Undermine the stump with a hand trowel , cut the roots with a recipricating saw. A good lever and out they popped.
Lleylandii don't have a tap root so it's easy , don't try a Silver Birch ... that took me 3 months
.
Lleylandii don't have a tap root so it's easy , don't try a Silver Birch ... that took me 3 months
.Edited by The Three D Mucketeer on Friday 10th May 18:40
Cut them down to around 8ft then get a chainsaw artist in if they are proper thick and design some cool garden features or something on them.
Alternatively get a mattock and go at it for a few weekends. They come out eventually. I even got my multi tool out (what a tool) and used a couple wood cutting bits and plunged them right into the roots to help weaken them for the mattock. Then you'll get to really enjoy an ice cold beer looking at the hole left behind thinking to yourself all proud, "ill pay someone next time"
Alternatively get a mattock and go at it for a few weekends. They come out eventually. I even got my multi tool out (what a tool) and used a couple wood cutting bits and plunged them right into the roots to help weaken them for the mattock. Then you'll get to really enjoy an ice cold beer looking at the hole left behind thinking to yourself all proud, "ill pay someone next time"
Lagom said:
Chop them down and get a stump grinder. Will be quicker and result in less mess than a mini digger,.
Given the overall width of the bloody things we’ll grass the larger part and move the new hedge nearer the boundary so stumps remaining would be a pain long term as they rot. Interesting idea though might have saved me buying a digger! Lagom said:
Chop them down and get a stump grinder. Will be quicker and result in less mess than a mini digger,.
Yes indeed. Hence my earlier point that a great deal of the question comes down to what's going to replace this hedge once removed. Some serious stump grinder action can produce a workable trench in pretty short order. No point though if the replacement is going to be just a fence.GeneralBanter said:
Given the overall width of the bloody things we’ll grass the larger part and move the new hedge nearer the boundary so stumps remaining would be a pain long term as they rot. Interesting idea though might have saved me buying a digger!
Leave them standing 6-8 ft tall bare trunks, maybe put some artificial nest holes in, you'll be amazed what wildlife you'll attract.At a guess, the ground under them will be very poor, low in nutrients and acidic. Grass lawn with need the ground rotavated, nutrients added and topsoil. With the roots that'll probably be a nightmare.
I reckon some wildflowers and forestry undergrowth plants (bulbs, foxglove) will take very nicely to it.
jfdi said:
If you got a bigger solid tree nearby, cut them down leaving about 4ft then tirfor them out. Chain around the conifer strap around the anchor tree.
No bigger threes nearby but maybe a good Plan B if the digger doesn’t do it, and have a couple of steel hawsers that would come in handy. You’ve all given me some good ideas, I’m planning it now but not doing this until straight after a garden party in July so I’ll update after then. I should imagine about 12 large uplifted stumps are going to take a while to burn as well.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff