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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 20, 2008 14:41:28 GMT
Bet you thought I was askin how to dig them up - ;D ooooo noooo I planted them especially to form a high hedge and it isnt working They are growing as tall trees and I want them to bind together and form a hedge Any ideas anyone  |
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Post by Plocket on Jul 20, 2008 15:32:37 GMT
How closely did you plant them Jenny? Do they just need to mature a bit?
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 20, 2008 16:04:17 GMT
They are not too close together and 12 months since I planted them
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Post by Plocket on Jul 20, 2008 16:34:00 GMT
So how big are they then? When we dug up the leylandii around mum and dad's garden the trees were planted about 5ft apart and they formed a very tight barrier.
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 20, 2008 16:56:59 GMT
I'll go and take a piccy
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 20, 2008 17:15:30 GMT
 Here they are ;D |
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Post by Shrubrose on Jul 20, 2008 17:30:22 GMT
I'm not an expert Jenny but I'd suggest lopping the tops off. That'll encourage the sides to bush out and keep doing it - maybe twice a year. If you leave them they'll get very tall, too tall to manage and you might end up having to dig them out. Cant quite see how wide the bed is that they're in but they need a bit of width to spread too. Mind you, you could trim them to a neatish sort of hedge if you wanted.
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 20, 2008 18:23:16 GMT
I did actually lob the tops off about 6 months ago and thought this may encourage them to bush out - maybe a little patience is needed ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 20, 2008 18:51:46 GMT
Mmmm they are a bit open aren't they. I'm guessing from the fence panels that they are 3ft apart and the panels are 5ft high. How high are you wanting them to grow Jenny. Like Shrub I'm no expert but I would trim the branches back on each tree that are crossing over each other and just let them touch for now, also trim each branch at the front and back the same amount. This will help them keep a good shape until they put on more growth. I'm sure you probably know this, but never cut back to into non green wood coz the green don't grow back. I hate Leylandii I have to say ;D but do understand why you want them ;D Once they do start going they will go. If that area was mine I'd take the lower branches off to halfway up the fence panel and only grow the top part as hedge. Underneath I'd put a small slab and have some pots with something in sat on them. Mmmm more watering though if you had pots  |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 20, 2008 19:02:45 GMT
Oh what a good idea about the pots - I will do it this week I want to hide the fence panels and create some privacy from my neighbour's hot tub  |
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Post by Dutchy on Jul 20, 2008 19:10:52 GMT
Yes more patience is needed I think. Lopping of the tops was a good start but you did plant a bit wide. As for things underneath. Leylandii are thirsty and so far I have never seen any one succeeding in growing things underneath. So yes the pots are a good Idea but why not place those in front or for now even in between (plenty of space by the look of it) without removing lower branches? Once gone they are forever gone. Give them two years before you do drastic things. As for my love of leylandii..... They make good fencing material  |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 20, 2008 19:16:22 GMT
There are a lot in and around my area and they have produced wonderful hedges, close to houses too and no sign of any upheaval with brickwork etc Before I planted them I did ask advice and planted them exactly as suggested - but at least they are growing - my clay soil kills most things off With all this rain I have small mini lakes everywhere  |
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Post by Weeterrier on Jul 20, 2008 22:22:15 GMT
I think Leylandii hedging should be planted about 2' apart. It should be allowed to grow 6" more than the desired height, then cut back. I wouldn't worry, it should become wider with time |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 21, 2008 6:10:03 GMT
Thanks Wee I am not a very patient gardener ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 21, 2008 6:58:42 GMT
Glad you liked the idea of the pots Jenny, would love to see what you do |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 21, 2008 20:01:49 GMT
Well I made a start Chuckles - tonight I trimmed all the bottom bits off ;D I thought some pots of red plants would look nice - but this means a trip to the Garden Centre ;D ;D ;D You naughty girl putting ideas into my head - have to go there now cant let you down |
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 21, 2008 20:10:40 GMT
Oooooh I'm all excited now Jenny can't wait to see how it looks once you've got it all sorted. I think it will look fab with some pots there and a bit of colour, better than just one mass of green and you can ring the changes if you have pots. Have a great time shopping at the GC ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 30, 2008 11:50:49 GMT
Any progress Jenny, I'm itching to see what you've done and bought from the GC of course ;D
I was thinking, you could put Morning Glory in the pots next year and let them scrammble up through the conifers.
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 30, 2008 19:11:02 GMT
Still in limbo with this had other "stuff" to sort out but I am NEVER growing Morning Glory again - such a palarver - still not flowered but still climbing I thought of buying three red pots and putting some shade loving plants in them |
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Post by farmersboy on Jul 30, 2008 19:33:51 GMT
Ill be sending some pics of moi Morning Glory soon ;D
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 30, 2008 20:39:08 GMT
Are those the ones I gave you <stampfeet>
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Post by farmersboy on Jul 30, 2008 20:53:18 GMT
The very same,JEN ;D
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Post by Biggles on Jul 30, 2008 20:53:29 GMT
Its funny how-  -when you 'split/'divide a plant and give half away-the half you give away grows while the one you kept-- dies----this often happens to me. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2008 22:21:26 GMT
Back to the leylandii,
As a former forestry worker the problem as I see it is, A. the leylandii is a fast growing tree & B. the fence next to it is doing it no favours. When you shade a tree (with a building, fence or other trees) it fights for the light, so the fence is probably making it grow upwards faster.
I planted an oak tree seedling between two established young conifers (cupressus) about 25 years ago and now the oak tree is much taller than the cupressus. I've never seen oaks grow like that before, it's now about 35-40ft high.
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jul 31, 2008 5:37:13 GMT
I bit like rhubarb then LS - thank you ;D
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2008 21:24:12 GMT
My Oak Tree  |
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Post by Chuckles on Aug 23, 2008 6:25:24 GMT
 It does look strange for an Oak doesn't it. Spotted your long loppers Larskhall couldn't be without mine well I assume thats whats leaning against the other tree. Any progress yet Jenny, I'm still excited to see what you eventually do
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Post by JennyWrenn on Aug 26, 2008 6:25:12 GMT
Not done anything at all yet - I keep looking in that area and thinking about you - not had the cash to splash on the garden this year |
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 4, 2008 10:13:50 GMT
Any progress yet Jenny ;D
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Post by JennyWrenn on Nov 5, 2008 7:29:09 GMT
Oh Chuckles what a good memory you have - No didnt do anything <shamedface>
But I do have bulbs planted under them which should look nice in the Spring ;D
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-when you 'split/'divide a plant and give half away-the half
It does look strange for an Oak doesn't it. Spotted your long loppers Larskhall couldn't be without mine