Trimming my giant bush
Discussion
Sorry, nothing sexy to see here...
I have some big ass leylandii in my garden about 3m high and maybe 40m long. Trimming the sides is easy enough but the tops are a pain made worse by the fact that there are a few rogue elders sprouting here and there.
What is the best tool (by best, I mean easiest) to cut the tops twice a year. I'd like to avoid messing around with ladders and really just want to walk along hacking it off. I assume a pole trimmer will struggle with the elders but perhaps I've just been using ones which are too weak.
I have some big ass leylandii in my garden about 3m high and maybe 40m long. Trimming the sides is easy enough but the tops are a pain made worse by the fact that there are a few rogue elders sprouting here and there.
What is the best tool (by best, I mean easiest) to cut the tops twice a year. I'd like to avoid messing around with ladders and really just want to walk along hacking it off. I assume a pole trimmer will struggle with the elders but perhaps I've just been using ones which are too weak.
netherfield said:
Randy Winkman said:
Whatever you do - if you do it now you will need to be careful about nesting birds. You might even be breaking the law. Sorry that doesnt actually help. 
Not breaking the law in your own garden, but yes be careful of nesting birds.miniman said:
What you need is to pay someone to do it.
This, oh so much this! I have (or rather had) about the same as you (slightly more but whatevs) and it was the best £800 I spent. I had been gradually knocking ours down bit by bit over a couple of years, last year I couldn't face it so had someone come in and take them down to half their height (lower in some places to restore our views out the windows). They spent a day doing it, would have taken me a week or more to achieve the same result.Randy Winkman said:
netherfield said:
Randy Winkman said:
Whatever you do - if you do it now you will need to be careful about nesting birds. You might even be breaking the law. Sorry that doesnt actually help.
Not breaking the law in your own garden, but yes be careful of nesting birds.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wild-birds-protection-...
geeks said:
miniman said:
What you need is to pay someone to do it.
This, oh so much this! I have (or rather had) about the same as you (slightly more but whatevs) and it was the best £800 I spent. I had been gradually knocking ours down bit by bit over a couple of years, last year I couldn't face it so had someone come in and take them down to half their height (lower in some places to restore our views out the windows). They spent a day doing it, would have taken me a week or more to achieve the same result.Randy Winkman said:
netherfield said:
Randy Winkman said:
Whatever you do - if you do it now you will need to be careful about nesting birds. You might even be breaking the law. Sorry that doesnt actually help.
Not breaking the law in your own garden, but yes be careful of nesting birds.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wild-birds-protection-...
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to intentionally damage or destroy an active nest. Between the beginning of March and end of August, thorough checks of the areas that are to be worked are needed. It's worth noting that some bird species nest outside of this timeframe, not to mention other protected wildlife.
I used thermal and night vision as part of my pre work inspection and monitor for a short while to watch for any activity in and out. If you are happy you can demonstrate that you are all clear, it's absolutely fine to crack on.
Easy really attach a garden hose to the exhaust of your car .....................stick it in the Leylandii bush / hedge / tree .... turn engine on
go and have a cup of tea ...
come back and cut the hedge
it works for nesting Horse flies
go and have a cup of tea ...
come back and cut the hedge
it works for nesting Horse flies
Edited by Purosangue on Monday 20th April 23:35
Silvanus said:
geeks said:
miniman said:
What you need is to pay someone to do it.
This, oh so much this! I have (or rather had) about the same as you (slightly more but whatevs) and it was the best £800 I spent. I had been gradually knocking ours down bit by bit over a couple of years, last year I couldn't face it so had someone come in and take them down to half their height (lower in some places to restore our views out the windows). They spent a day doing it, would have taken me a week or more to achieve the same result.Randy Winkman said:
netherfield said:
Randy Winkman said:
Whatever you do - if you do it now you will need to be careful about nesting birds. You might even be breaking the law. Sorry that doesnt actually help.
Not breaking the law in your own garden, but yes be careful of nesting birds.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wild-birds-protection-...
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to intentionally damage or destroy an active nest. Between the beginning of March and end of August, thorough checks of the areas that are to be worked are needed. It's worth noting that some bird species nest outside of this timeframe, not to mention other protected wildlife.
I used thermal and night vision as part of my pre work inspection and monitor for a short while to watch for any activity in and out. If you are happy you can demonstrate that you are all clear, it's absolutely fine to crack on.
I have a similar challenge and added a long saw and extendable hedge trimmer to my husky multitool. They do an electric version as well - linky. It's damn hard work so initially got a the local tree surgeon in to get to the right height and now DIY it spring and autumn to keep up to it. Job's a carrot.
ETA - there's a free battery offer on atm if you buy a kit.
ETA - there's a free battery offer on atm if you buy a kit.
As said above, a decent long reach hedge trimmer and polesaw of some type.
I'm not averse to corded for a long reach trimmer, you'd really have to be trying to cut the flex.
Stihl version here> https://compass.frjonesandson.co.uk/products/stihl...
I never got on with extended mini chain saws and always found a decent polesaw to be better and easier. Silky are the gold standard, but Wolf Garten are a great price/quality ratio for the heavy domestic user.
https://wolfonline.co.uk/collections/wolf-garten-t...
I'm not averse to corded for a long reach trimmer, you'd really have to be trying to cut the flex.
Stihl version here> https://compass.frjonesandson.co.uk/products/stihl...
I never got on with extended mini chain saws and always found a decent polesaw to be better and easier. Silky are the gold standard, but Wolf Garten are a great price/quality ratio for the heavy domestic user.
https://wolfonline.co.uk/collections/wolf-garten-t...
M11rph said:
As said above, a decent long reach hedge trimmer and polesaw of some type.
I'm not averse to corded for a long reach trimmer, you'd really have to be trying to cut the flex.
Stihl version here> https://compass.frjonesandson.co.uk/products/stihl...
I’d recommend the Stihl Kombi system. I remember when I bought mine it was actually slightly cheaper to buy the Kombi engine and hedge trimming attachment than a specific long reach hedge trimmer.I'm not averse to corded for a long reach trimmer, you'd really have to be trying to cut the flex.
Stihl version here> https://compass.frjonesandson.co.uk/products/stihl...
You buy an engine (either petrol or electric)
Adjustable long reach hedge trimmer
https://www.stihl.co.uk/en/p/kombisystem-multisyst...
Pole pruner (basically a mini long reach mini chainsaw for small branches)
https://www.stihl.co.uk/en/p/kombisystem-multisyst...
You can also use it as a strimmer and various other things…can also buy an extension pole for an extra 1m of reach.
All the options are here
https://www.stihl.co.uk/en/c/kombisystem-multisyst...
We do a lot of Conifer hedge reductions and it all depends on how much is coming off. Frequently we use the light weight top handle chainsaws we use when climbing trees to take the height down if the growth is half an inch or more. Less than that and we use the Stihl Kombi long reach hedge cutters. Just be prepared for the top looking terrible as Conifer won't really regrow to fill the space.
3m high is easy.
Step ladder and ordinary hedge trimmer.
Loppers for big branches maybe
I have a mains pole hedge trimmer which was about £45 and does the job.
3m high, you can reach all the sides with a normal hedgetrimmer, mains or battery, to trim it several times a year.
Pole tools are good, but sometimes you need to get up and deal with knotty bits or whatever.
I'd consider taking it down by maybe half a metre, for that, a 6" battery chainsaw is often handy.
But a good manual pruning saw will do it.
Often best to stop debating the best tool to buy and crack on with whatever you've got.
I inherited a pair of hedge shears, I can do a lot of carnage with those while the boss is looking for power tools!
Worst thing about our leylandii is the bindweed that grows up in it.And the laurel next to it. And whatever it is that looks a bit sick further along the hedge.
Step ladder and ordinary hedge trimmer.
Loppers for big branches maybe
I have a mains pole hedge trimmer which was about £45 and does the job.
3m high, you can reach all the sides with a normal hedgetrimmer, mains or battery, to trim it several times a year.
Pole tools are good, but sometimes you need to get up and deal with knotty bits or whatever.
I'd consider taking it down by maybe half a metre, for that, a 6" battery chainsaw is often handy.
But a good manual pruning saw will do it.
Often best to stop debating the best tool to buy and crack on with whatever you've got.
I inherited a pair of hedge shears, I can do a lot of carnage with those while the boss is looking for power tools!
Worst thing about our leylandii is the bindweed that grows up in it.And the laurel next to it. And whatever it is that looks a bit sick further along the hedge.
Cheib said:
I d recommend the Stihl Kombi system. I remember when I bought mine it was actually slightly cheaper to buy the Kombi engine and hedge trimming attachment than a specific long reach hedge trimmer.
You buy an engine (either petrol or electric)
Adjustable long reach hedge trimmer
https://www.stihl.co.uk/en/p/kombisystem-multisyst...
...
I've had great use from my Tanaka "Kombi", the japanese still make the best things that do cutting jobs! You buy an engine (either petrol or electric)
Adjustable long reach hedge trimmer
https://www.stihl.co.uk/en/p/kombisystem-multisyst...
...
I was trying to keep the OP's spend fairly sensible but if you are starting from scratch then they make sense.
This being PH we all know the correct answer is this, and then build a machine shed to house it...
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