Coniferous hedge cut back, advice needed
Hi,
Moved into a property with a nice hedge with the trunks forming the boundary. I don't know much about it but I'm guessing coniferous of some sort. As you can see in the attached picture it has grown out a lot (more towards the top) and covers the first flag stone of the patio.On the neighbors side it is quite tightly kept I would like to reclaim some of that space but not sure about cutting it back. I've looked into the hedge and there isn't much depth before you start getting into hard wood. Any advice would be great.

Moved into a property with a nice hedge with the trunks forming the boundary. I don't know much about it but I'm guessing coniferous of some sort. As you can see in the attached picture it has grown out a lot (more towards the top) and covers the first flag stone of the patio.On the neighbors side it is quite tightly kept I would like to reclaim some of that space but not sure about cutting it back. I've looked into the hedge and there isn't much depth before you start getting into hard wood. Any advice would be great.

0
Posts
1. Trim it lightly and soon to neaten it and keep it trimmed once or twice a year to stop it encroaching further onto the path and live with the narrowed path.
2. Have the conifer hedge removed then either erect a good fence and replenish the soil with plenty of well-rotted manure and compost and plant some interesting shrubs, climbers, perennials, bulbs or an interesting hedge.
If you crush the foliage it has quite a fruity fragrance - l would describe it as pineapple, but you'll definitely smell something if it is thuja.
The problem you have is that if you do cut it back as far as you ideally want to, it's going to look a mess for a good while. As Obelixx says, it maybe worth considering taking it out completely.
Failing that, just cut it back as far as you can without exposing the wood, see how it looks and maybe have a rethink
Just keep it lightly trimmed .
This poor poster has to live with their mistake
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/736071/hiding-my-mistake
It does look like thuja to me.