Talkback: The Leyland cypress

Gardeners' World Web User

I absolutely agree with this, but has anyone any ideas on the best way to get rid of a 6 metre high wall of 25 trees running round my garden?

Gardeners' World Web User

Is it possible to find a use for shredded leylandi clippings? I am fairly new to owning an allotment and wondered if they could be used for paths, filling in holes - I have a few of those - or even be composted. Perhaps they can be used to make ericaceous compost?

Gardeners' World Web User

I'm afraid, Mr Murraymint, the only way is with chainsaw, stumpgrinder and (sadly) chequebook!

Shredded leylandii will eventually compost down. I have used them for paths before and they are fine but not at robust as woodchips.

Gardeners' World Web User

My elderly mum has a Leyland cypress hedge that has become too tall and too wide. She is getting complaints from a neighbour and so from the council, which worries her greatly. I have noticed that some similar species sprout new growth vigorously from their bases when cut back to a bare stump. Could this be a cheap way to restart a more reasonably sized hedge, which will grow outwards rapidly to fill holes, and which has a 5ft height marker (the stump) to help keep the height down? Or will the whole thing just die?

Gardeners' World Web User

leylandi should be sold with a health warning. We move to this house nearly 2 years ago the house is 23years old and I think everyone on the estate must have gone out and emptied the garden centres of the things 23 years ago.the size of some are unbelievable one inparticular is
easy 5metres wide and as high as the house lucky for us its not in our garden,we did have one next to a horsechestnut we chopped it down last year and dug out the root.both side of us back and front are leylandi but lucky again the roots are in the neighbouring gardens and we have very good neighbours we do one side between us and the other side we go into their garden and trim them they are at a manageable hight and we bought one of those hedge trimmers that can cut at different angles and have ajustable handle for different hights a pain spending time cutting other peoples hedges but they look nice when kept trim.I did read they dont live long lives like our native trees is this true?if it is theres going to be either a big compost heap or a very big bonfire one day,can only hope.I would much rather see a nice native hedge and I'm sure the wild life would like it better.

Gardeners' World Web User

How long does a Leyland live? I don't think anyone knows yet, as they were only bred less than a century ago. Which also means that no one knows how big they eventually grow. I hoped that an overgrown hedge could be cut right back to bare stumps, which would then spring to life with rapidly growing shoots from the base, so giving you a 'second chance' to keep it in check. I have today been told that Leyland cypress cannot do this. Has anyone any direct experience of this?

Gardeners' World Web User

HI Martin
I'm afraid that your hedge will not sprout back if you cut it back hard. Instead it will be brown and dead.
This sort of hard pruning works well with yew, box, laurel, privet, Lonicera ntida and other hedging shrubs but not Leylandii.
You can clip it lightly but that's about it. I'm afraid you either have to live with it or grasp the nettle and start all over again.

Gardeners' World Web User

Hi i have a beautiful leylandii hedge, however, on my neighbour's side he has severly pruned it so it looks mainly brown with cut branches with some green parts- my side looks really good what can i do to improve the side the neighbour has pruned? will his pruning affect my side?

Gardeners' World Web User

Anon: Sadly most Cypress will not grow back if they are cut back very hard so your neighbour is stuck with a brown hedge. It shouldn't bother your side except that the hedge is unbalanced and - if hit by a very strong wind, may be more vulnerable.

Gardeners' World Web User

i have just cut the top of my layland cyprus trees im looking to know will it grow taller it is 4 foot tall i want it to grow to about 7 foot or will it stay at that hight i took off about 4 inches

Gardeners' World Web User

Harry: I promise you it will grow back. But it will not stop growing at 7' so be prepared for lots of clipping!