Leylandii and conifer hedges: reduce or remove?

Why conifers can't just be cut back hard

Most conifers, leylandii included, do not regrow from old wood. The Royal Horticultural Society notes that most conifer hedges won't regrow once cut back into the brown, bare wood inside, so a hedge reduced too far in width can be left with permanent bare patches. That is the big difference from hedges like beech, hawthorn or privet, which usually recover from hard pruning.

Reducing the height and width

Taking height off is usually more straightforward than cutting the sides back, although the cut top can look flat and bare for a while. The sides are trickier, because cutting back into brown wood will not regrow. We'll look at the hedge and tell you honestly how much can safely come off, and whether the result will look the way you want.

When removal makes more sense

If a hedge has grown far too tall or wide to bring back without leaving it bare, or it is dying out at the base, taking it out and starting again with something more manageable is often the better option in the long run. We can fell the hedge, clear the arisings and grind the stumps so the ground is ready for new planting, a fence or a wall.

The high hedge rules

Government guidance defines a high hedge as two or more mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs over 2 metres tall, which describes most overgrown leylandii. If a neighbour's hedge is a problem, the guidance says to try to settle it informally first. If that fails, you can complain to the council, which may charge a fee. In Havant borough, the council treats a complaint as a last resort, its Tree Officer and Planning Enforcement team investigate with a site visit, and either side can appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

Cutting back a neighbour's conifers

You can trim branches that overhang your side, but only up to the property boundary, and it is worth talking to your neighbour before any work starts. If the trees are covered by a Tree Preservation Order or stand in a conservation area, you may need the council's permission first.

Keeping a conifer hedge in shape

The way to stop a leylandii hedge getting out of hand is regular trimming, so it never has to be cut back into old wood. Formal hedges can need trimming up to three times a year. Check for active birds' nests before every cut: conifer hedges are popular nesting spots, and damaging a nest in use is an offence.

Help us quote for your conifers

• Photos of the whole hedge from your side, and from the road if you can
• Roughly how long and how tall it is
• Whether you want it reduced, reshaped or taken out completely
• Whether you want the stumps ground out afterwards
• Anything nearby: fences, sheds, greenhouses, overhead cables