I've got a row of Leylandii at the back of my garden that have gotten way too tall—over 20 feet! They were about 14 feet when I moved in, and while I want to trim them down to a manageable height (ideally where they were when I moved in), I'm concerned about whether cutting them back aggressively will just leave me with ugly dead wood. I want to maintain some privacy, but I also want to avoid a maintenance nightmare. Has anyone done this before? Will they grow back green again, or will I just end up with a bunch of dead tree tops?
3 Answers
If you cut them back hard, the top will be pretty bare for a while, but don't worry too much. After a few years, the green parts will fill in the gaps as they get more light. Just keep in mind that you'll need to keep trimming not just the sides but also the tops to avoid them getting out of control again, as those top shoots will want to become leaders. It's totally doable!
Honestly, expecting to keep Leylandii at a height you can manage isn't realistic. You might want to think about planting a privacy hedge in front of them first, then once that's grown in, take the Leylandii out completely. That way you won't be dealing with their height problem anymore.
My brother-in-law was in a similar situation. He found a local farmer who does roadside hedges, and for just £50, they chopped his Leylandii down to about 6 feet—almost a third of their original height! It took a couple of years, but now his hedge is manageable and healthy. You might want to consider finding someone local to help you out for a good price too!
Yeah, agree with you on the pruning! My friend did this and after a few years it looked a lot better. Just make sure you stay on top of the trimming.