conifer hedge - will a dead side grow back?

[Ian Geary]

Afternoon

I have a row of conifer hedges running along about 80% of the front of my property, ending at one side where the driveway comes in.



The gap for the driveway is too narrow in my opinion, so whilst bored this afternoon, I have chopped the end tree down.

As expected, instead of the nice green edge to the hedge I had before, the end is now all ragged, as the branches of the second tree doesn't have any foliage developed on the newly exposed side.


If this makes sense, my question is:

- will a conifer hedge grow back over time, and cover the newly exposed face with nice green foliage? Or will it forever remain bare branches through which you can see inside the hedge and the trunk?


If it won't grow back, I'll put up a small width of fence across the end of the hedge, thus hiding the dead area.



thanks

Ian

[mattdaniels]

Don't know the answer but I trimmed back the face of next doors connifers last year where they were overhanging our garden and the brown bits are still there.

[Migsy]

Ditto the above - and it was 2 years ago. So probably the answer is no, it won't grow back.

[Wheelrepairit]

Only one type of conifer that grows back from dead as far as I know.

Can't for the life of me remember what they are called, something like " Fuja huja" or something.

I've just replaced a whole hedge with them, they are slower growing than leyandi and smell of lemon when cut.

Sorry, no idea how to tell if it's these you have, apart from smelling them I guess, .

[0a]

My understanding and experience with Leylandii at least is that they do not grow back from 'brown twigs' - they grow from the green tips of the plant (at least on the sides), so you need to be careful how you cut them.

[Chrisgr31]

As it is one side of the tree you may be ok over time if the ends grow round (if that makes sense).

However as others have said they will not grow off brown bits.

[Ian Geary]

thanks chaps

at least I won't be spending ages waiting for the trunk to sprout new branches.

I'm liking the extra tree idea too.


Ian

[markbigears]

I cut my conifers back in my old place right back to brown. Took about 5 years to fully grow back, had new growth the following season.

[Mr GrimNasty]

As already pointed out, it depends on species, there are loads of conifers that people would call Leylandii that aren't (like Thuja). Yew (OK not a true conifer) is probably the best at regeneration, Thuja usually OK, Leylandii no chance, and there's dozens of other types of hedging conifer too.

[B19GRR]

Sorry

I'd just replace the second tree that's just been revealed with a new one.

Cheers,
Rob

[Mave]

Ours hasn't grown back in 3 years, in a garden where just about anything will grow! We ended up sticking some honeysuckle nearby, and let it take over

[majordad]

Def wont grow back, you should plant a new small tree. It will always look odd if you dont, or hide it in some other way.

[richyb]

Not likely. Most conifers won't re-grow from die back. The general strategy of a conifer is to grow tall and straight and they will 'self prune' all their lower branches as they grow.

Wheelrepairit said:

Only one type of conifer that grows back from dead as far as I know.

Can't for the life of me remember what they are called, something like " Fuja huja" or something.

There are very few conifer species that will do this with the most famous probably being the Coastal Redwood. To be fair you don't get many hedges of them!

[Mr GrimNasty]

richyb said:

Not likely. Most conifers won't re-grow from die back. The general strategy of a conifer is to grow tall and straight and they will 'self prune' all their lower branches as they grow.

Wheelrepairit said:

Only one type of conifer that grows back from dead as far as I know.

Can't for the life of me remember what they are called, something like " Fuja huja" or something.

There are very few conifer species that will do this with the most famous probably being the Coastal Redwood. To be fair you don't get many hedges of them!

These days, since Leylandii became persona non gratis and less often stocked by decent nurseries, MOST conifer hedges planted are one of various types of Thuja (western red cedar) - they are slightly less vigorous, denser, and respond very well to pruning into a neat hedge, and DO usually readily grow back (but nothing is guaranteed in life). Most people couldn't tell the difference between Leylandii and Thuja.

Edited by Mr GrimNasty on Tuesday 21st February 21:17