By Angel_pjn
Cheshire,
United Kingdom 
I have just had to have 27 60ft leylandii trees removed because of damage to house foundations. Although I live in the country they were a welcome screen from neighbours field which he uses as a scrap yard. Any suggestions please as to which trees and shrubs I could plant in their place which are fast growing but NOT with damaging root systems. I am assuming the soil left by the leylandii will be acid.
Thank you all for your comments/suggestions regarding the above - to answer questions: the trees removed were about 12 ft from the house and the soil is clay. I looked on the internet regarding acid loving trees and 'sweet gum' was mentioned. Does anyone have an opinion or knowledge of such a tree?
1 Feb, 2011
Answers
You will have to add a lot of good organic matter to the soil before you plant anything as it will be totally depleted from the leylandii.
Pamg's suggestion is good but this would not be a fast growing hedge. In fact anything fast growing will have an invasive root system. You don't say how near to the house the hedge will be which is another consideration.
1 Feb, 2011
You could also contact the local office of the Environment Agency as it sounds as if your neighbour has an illegal scrap yard. This should help with the view.
1 Feb, 2011
Ah, the alternative from Bulbaholic. You do cryptic crosswords, too? Probably the fastest taller natives will be cherry, poplar, and ash, all of which will outdo Leylandii for root spread. Next comes birch, which ight be an option, if the distance from the house is adequate. It's not a great rooter. Hawthorn and hornbeam for a good hedge, and fairly quickly. As MG says, the soil may need some body in it. What's the underlying ground, chalk, clay? Worthy
1 Feb, 2011
The sweet gum mentioned is Liquidambar, a deciduous tree that I have avoided trying because if you get a female, it drops masses of sticky fruit. Since it drops its leaves, it wouldn't well as a screen.
2 Feb, 2011
its a gorgeous tree though.......
2 Feb, 2011
You say twelve feet from your house on clay, ouch, far too near really for comfort. We have subsidence in our home cause by the street tree, a huge cherry just fifteen feet from our door and we are on clay and eighteen months on we are still battling with the council who want to replace the said tree once it is felled! How crazy is that. You have posed a good question because roots spread to where ever the moisture is, Pam. suggested a native hedge which would be lovely in years to come, worth considering.
2 Feb, 2011
12 foot is far too close for any big trees, I'd go the hedge route myself and talk to the Environment Agency.
2 Feb, 2011
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how about a native hedge, such as blackthorn, hawthorn hazel elder beech etc. rather than the usual ones you can get cultivars that are very attractive. well done for removing the dreaded leylandii but awful that the've done so much damage
1 Feb, 2011