It would be helpful if you told us what type of fir tree they are as rate of growth and tolerance to invasive trimming may make a difference to the outcome?

Actual Firs do not make new growth from any wood that doesn't have leaves. So, they will resume vertical growth, but only from the outer edges of the bush, where the foliage is. Expect exposed wood for decades to come if you do this. Double check to make sure that it isn't some other conifer, since Hemlocks, Douglas Firs--not the same as true Firs--some Pines, and most of the members of the Cypress family can stump sprout, though it may take several years of corrective pruning to make them look decent again.

The usual sort of hedge would be cupressus or thuja rather than a true pine. These you can cut down to a foot or so lower than you want the hedge to be, cutting only the central trunk and thus leaving a bowl shaped hollow on the top of the hedge. The outside branches will grow up and eventually inward and you can then keep the hedge at its new height. A vigorous hedge will look quite normal again after a few months growth. So you do really need to know what the plants are before you start.

you could to start with put a line up to the hight you want your hedge and follow it with your shears hedge trimmers etc .

Hi NP I think a low hedge is less than 3-4ft? so we still need to know what fir trees! these are or he may well end up with a bare mess.

hello drc726 my advise then is for if they have the right fir trees then and thanx .

I suspect that they are actually a different species, since a hedge of Firs would be somewhat outre, and rather difficult to maintain. I definitely couldn't recommend Firs for a low hedge.

:))

So come on Pricey, give us a photo if you don't know what they are.

Frustrating isnt it ST?

Perhaps Pricey hasn't looked at his replies yet.

Have just had a baby, hence the delay in answering your question.....

I believe the firs are leylandii......

Aaww!! Congratulations, Pricey!! All is explained, and I hope you will forgive our impatience.

Just for future reference, while a Leylandii is a conifer, it isn't a Fir, which is a different sort of conifer entirely. : )
I'll leave the info to those who have had more experience with Leylandiis in the UK, since my experience with their relatives in the Arizona desert doesn't entirely apply.

Take care of yourself and your beloved, and best wishes!

Hi Pricey, Leylandii grow 3-5 ft a year. So to maintain it as a 'low hedge' - 3-4ft! is not really workable and no longer even possible for yours. You could trim it 2-3 a year to maintain it at its present 8ft. You may well find if you try to reduce it by more then the current new growth you will get bare brown patches that will never recover and bare stems dont regrow they stay bare
My advice is get rid before it grows any more and replace with a hedge, that will be more manageable/attractive as a low hedge. Leylandii suck all the goodness/water from your garden and it already exceeds the currant 2m limit on Leylanddii hedges in the UK?

I thought they might be leylandii. You could try cutting the trunks as I suggested above and if they survive the outside branches should grow up and conceal the gap in the middle. This would work if you wanted to cut the trunk to say 5 feet and maintain the hedge at about 6 feet. But as Drc says you couldn't really do this successfully if you want a low hedge and it would be better to replace them with a slower growing variety. No harm in trying though, but don't hold your breath.

Thanks all for your advice, I have learnt lots! I really dont like the hedge and my ideal is to get rid of them.... Any suggestions for a replacement? As you can tell I'm not a gardener, but I was thinking of Laurels.....

You need to decide on the type of hedge you want to end up with evergreen, deciduous, flowering, height and how much maintenance you want to do, soil conditions and the situation as you need to choose plants that tolerate your conditions. Why not look around your neighbourhood for what grows well and looks good.

For decent maintenance on a medium-low hedge like you are thinking of, Pricey, you will probably want to go with some of the slower growers, such as Boxwood, Box Honeysuckle, or dwarf Japanese Yew. Hmmm...I'm trying to think of a low grower that looks like Laurel. Drc, et al., how does India Hawthorn (Raphiolepis indica) do in the UK? My info is that it is hardy down to -17º C.

I have no experience of it Tugb, a nice very low hedge is lavender but short lived.

I've got to admit, I have never seen one more than 18 inches high, though!

No I agree mine is about that.

Laurel? Depends how long the hedge is. Laurel has such big leaves it might not be the best choice for a smallish front garden, and its too large leaved and vigorous for a 3-4 foot hedge anyway. And you really need to to trim it with secateurs to avoid cutting the leaves in half. Do you want evergreen, do you want a very neat closely clipped hedge or would you prefer something more informal? Do you want it to flower, do you mind if its thorny?

If you can answer these questions and say what height you want we will try again! Hope you aren't having too many sleepless nights!