To fell or not to fell?

Grandmage, I'm thinking that it will be difficult to get anything to grow in the soil that the C. Leylandii have been in. Perhaps a raised bed filled with fresh soil would be a solution? Can't think of what you can hide the garage wall with tho', only more trees that are less vigorous & have less dense foliage. How about silver birch, some varieties have very white trunks, or perhaps pyramidal cherries ( the ones with the swept up branches).

You could always gravel the area over and use it for pots. Maybe grow something tall in the pots, acers perhaps, to screen the view?

Well done, Gill! They're beasts and you're well rid...look at all that light!! :)))

And, my, what a professional job!

I was in a friend's garden in Scotland, the other week...they're gradually replacing the same monsters with silver birch trees...

...they have trunks (as high as the fence), give lovely dappled shade...and privacy...

...plus, you can plant underneath them :))) x

Hi all, funny we have been chatting all day as to what to do!!! and Silver birch came up the ones with the white bark, but I am not going to hurry , I will ponder my thoughts and take my time. Yes Karen they are beasts and I am so glad that they have gone, the guys were brilliant and very professional and cleared up so well. Louisa we have talked about gravel too & pots so that will go on the maybe list, Feverfew, yes the soil will be acidic so maybe Rhodies might be good or Hydrangeas perhaps, not sure,not going to try to hide the garage it will cost too much, we will learn to live with it for a while until we decide what to do, of course the neighbour needs to see his fence 1st which is totally rotten. Meadowland, we took the bull by the horns and got rid and we are delighted, we were worried that maybe someday someone might ask the council to ask us to remove them anyway so we got in before that happened! Thanks for your suggestions I can keep this blog to remind me. :)

Oh my gosh G'mage tha's sorted that owt and no mistake, !!!!!!!! my daughter had some removed from her old garden and by the end of that summer she had a lovely border full of good healthy plants, plus a lovely white rose bush that just popped up out of nowhere , we never added anything to the earth just dug it over, planted it up and hoped for the best and it worked, you've doubled your garden haven't you, whatever you decide, I bet you're eager to make a start even if its only to cover the bareness at the moment, have fun browsing to get your ideas, lol......

Oh Lincs, no going back as you say!!! We are not going to hurry or worry about this space just now, it is far too hot for a start, well it is for me. Went out into the garden just now, 9.15 and have been bitten four times all around my ankles, :( I hate going outside when the midges are around. We are going to clear this patch slowly and then take a few trips to GC's and shop around and take our time. I would like a rambling rose of some sort and yes we have gained double Lincs!!! Didnt really want all that work but I tend to pack plants in so no weeds grow. Time will tell. :)

Oh I'm getting bitten as well, its a beggar as its lovely outside tonight, I should have listened to my dear ole mum, she used to rub vinegar on herself, lol. a rambler sounds good and you know I'm all for packing the plants in, its a good time for visiting GC's and Nurseries now as you can pick up quite a few bargains as they want to get rid and as you say being so dry you wouldn't want to try and plant out at the moment anyway.
Flood warnings all over the web as the experts predict all manner of delights for Weds, typical as our schools break up tomorrow.....

Yes typical as you say, our lot break up tomorrow here but we do need some water don't we??? I will look around for bargains, canny shopper me!! There is a lot of ivy in that patch so that will need clearing first, I look forward to the rain just for a couple of days and then that's it! Have you seen the moon tonight, it's enormous! The temp in our bedroom is 86*.........help.

Perhaps a row of mixed hydrangeas if you want labour saving, with bulbs underneath for Spring? I used to dislike them but there are some lovely varieties around these days. (Got a lovely dainty white paniculata at Aberglasny last week)

It looks so very different now, like a new garden! How nice to be able to start planning all over again.

Good riddance :o) You must be pleased with your decision to chop those trees down, and how exciting deciding what to do with that new space.

Good on you, awful trees, and look at all that beautiful planting space, not going to give you any ideas, except new taller fence, to try and block out that garage, a job we have been doing for 13 years!! nearly done it lol good luck will look forward to seeing what you do!!

Ooh. I would advise against Silver Birch trees. I got rid of mine a couple of years ago but the neighbours still have one. First it's the catkins which are a pain to clear up. Then it's the seeds; they get everywhere and can clog up gutters and drains. Then come the little leaves; a real hassle to rake up in the autumn, and there are mountains of them! And they could eventually grow as tall as the Leylanii. In my opinion whilst beautiful, they are really messy trees and all in all not really suited to smaller domestic gardens.

Great they have gone and now you can enjoy more light and a less depressing out look. If you decide on SB a Weeping Silver Birch can do a good job of screening lower down where you need it.
But I think trees might struggle there so I would perhaps look for a different solution such as wooden screening and a scree garden, adding another area to sit and enjoy the sun.
Do take your time to consider your new space and something will come to you.

Hi Goyers and thank you, Stera, I like your hydrangea idea, I had that thought myself thinking they would be blue after the pines has made the earth acidic. Lol Hywel......yes good riddance as you say, we keep looking out the window now, wow there is a huge space out there! Dd. bless you...We will take our time and have a good think. Diggin, also thanks for your sound advice re. the trees, I dont think we will plant any trees anymore now, they do need too much attention don't they? and Drc. we have all the time in the world and will certainly take it slowly, don't fear :)

Great idea getting rid of those trees..it was a brave decision to finally go for it,G.mage..I know you will take your time to decide what to have there..no rush..you have to be happy with your choices..Does OH need more train space?? Lol...a little track all way round,and charge all the kids to have a ride..simples ! :o)) x

B. ssshhhhh. dont let on to him or that's what will happen Lol. Mind twenty years ago i would have loved the train going around the garden. Hopefully going to get someone to come and have a look and give us advice, so will keep you all posted. I just want an easy life to tell the truth!

brave decsion - but look how much ground space you've won back, and there must be an increase in available light as well!

Lol! I heard...miniature railway, indeed...or, perhaps, miniature switch-back - what with all that height, as well! Only kidding...lol! :D

Fran, yes it was a brave decision and the new light is fantastic, but all that work!!!!!!
Karen=Lol glad you are kidding. :)

It must be so much lighter and brighter without them and you have a wonderful new space to work on.
No need to rush into anything so just enjoy thinking and planning.
A nice trellis next to the garage planted with honeysuckles and roses and clematis would shield it from view but a lot of new soil would be on the shopping list too!!
Have fun and do tell us what happens please.

Thanks Rose, as you say lots of thinking and planning time, we have already been to the GC to have a walk around and 'plan', ended up having coffee and a scone, Lol, so not much planning got done there. ha ha. Watch this space anyway.

Our nearest garden centre is near Bude and we go there many times, not for the plants however as they are rather over priced but their coffee and cheese scones are the best we've tasted!!

Lots of luck with your plans and lots more scones!

That reminds me..a free coffee due at ours..their loyalty card needs one more stamp on it :o)..

Rose & B......girls after my own heart!! Our GC is too expensive as well, but their scones......yummy. Enjoy.

I can see a nice raised bed along the back planted with climbers of your choice to cover that garage wall along with other flowering plants, finished off with a nice flagged patio to put lots of plant pots filled with scented flowers, a table and chairs so you can sit and enjoy your own coffee and cream teas. If funds will allow it !!

Thanks Chino a great idea, something along the lines I have been thinking. Time will tell.........and as you say funds??

Wow, what a difference and how exciting thinking of all the ways to use the 'spare' ground. Will look forward to hearing what you decide but, as you say, no rush :)

In this heat Gee all can wait!! But it gives us more time to think too. It's raining here....yipee.

Very heavy rain several times today here, plus thunder and lightening but at least a little bit cooler and the water butts should be full :)

:) forgot about those!!

I had the same problem and planted a row of 7 Patio Roses next to the old roots, which didnt need anything on them.
The Patio Roses have now made a huge hedge, so I have to keep it trimmed. Well worth the cost. Lovely show of flowers in summer.

That's a great idea Diane, can you tell me the variety you used? I was thinking of a rambling rose along that ghastly fence, but we might go and ask the neighbour if we can take his fence down, as he cannot even see it because it is behind their garage.

I didnt keep the label Grandmage. Just bought 'Patio Roses' from the GC.
They were a good investment.
The only trouble is they make 7 ' long growths, and if these are left to fill up the ground space, weeds grow underneath which are difficult to get at. So its best to keep them trimmed, as a hedge.
It has flowered on top.

I see Diane, thanks, still keeping my options open have someone coming today to look at the space and give me advice!

what you grow depends on how much you can discourage the visitors that your neighbour lets past - at least, what you can grow with some assurance that it'll still be there the next day when in flower!

Fran, there will be no problem there I promise you, that fence is at the bottom of their garden, we are the 1st house in our road and are surrounded by 7 gardens that back onto us, difficult to explain but all the fences from the 7 gardens are the fences at the end of these gardens!! Been here almost 40 years now and had no problem except falling fences etc.

oh, ok, :-)

Omg gill look at that .. We are going to cut one down soon as got out of hand .. Not alltigether tho .. ,our bank had lots of overgrown hawtorths all the way down , which oh got rid of and u can see wot its like now... Gave us 10ft xtra too play with ... Did u keep the logs ... They are usefull for makeing raised beds . Or u can sell them off.. Logs are 75£a ton u know .. Well dun to you.. Look forward to ideas ?

Hi Crissie.....we didnt keep the logs because the guy said he would take everything and clear up the sight so we thought it would be worth it, save us a job!!! These trees were planted about 35 years ago so have gotten far too big for their boots! Lol. Not sure what to do yet, we have another 20'+ of garden to do!! Its too hot to do anything just now! :) Good luck with your trees, it's a big job.

?. xxx after the open garden lol .. Busy doing bedroom at mo x

Grandmage,

Help is on its way, from Belgium of all places (Flanders), in the form of shoots from the Virginia Creeper or Parthenocissus quinquefolia. Just wait till the beginning of September, and that wall will be covered soon! ;-)
Looking forward to seeing you again!

'Mules' Hilda and Pip

Thank you Hilda, as you can see we have a lot of work to do now, so anything to help would be wonderful. Thank you. :)