Lleylandii hedge removal?

[GeneralBanter]

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.

[GeneralBanter]

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!

[GeneralBanter]

PositronicRay said:

Can you live with the stumps? Just cut off close to the ground, they won't regrow.

If only. Trouble is it’ll look either Council or Watneys pub garden.

[GeneralBanter]

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!

[GeneralBanter]

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.

[GeneralBanter]

Chumley.mouse said:

As said above, just dig round them cutting off roots with a reciprocating saw as you go. Leave the roots in as they will just rot away underground. Leylandii tend to have a lot of thinner roots.


Im old and i can still manage it.

That looks like a nightmare of stony ground and falling off an edge. Why not just leave the stump in to rot?

[GeneralBanter]

The Gauge said:

I've pulled smaller laylandii out by hand, but yours might also me possible..

Wait until after bird nesting season.
Cut off all the side branches leaving at least 6ft of trunk to use as leverage.
Dig out around the base of the trunks to cut through any thick roots as possible, using a mattock.
Try levering the trunks out from up high

If you go down the car and tow rope route, be sure to have someone film it for our entertainment and price up new rear windscreens and check they have stocks first

… or book the clutch replacement in advance

[GeneralBanter]

AdamV12V said:

The Three D Mucketeer said:

I don't think it's a new thing
That's why they started making double sided fence panels ... with "Posh" sides on both sides (Nothing to do with PORT side Out , STARBOARD Home "

Absolutely, not a new thing at all... Legally you always have to have the "st" side if you own the boundary. 50/50 who gets it if its a joint boundary.

Its a simple rule of thumb when looking at new homes as to if you will be liable for a boundary or not....

There’s no legal requirement on which way round a fence has to be, that I do know!