i have inherited a 30foot leylandii hedge which has never been trimmed or lopped is it too late as i would like to keep it but only if it can be tamed

Leylandii can only be trimmed back into the green growth, old woody bits will not shoot again. This will be overshadowing everything and sucking out moisture and nutrients. Unless it is doing a useful screening or windbreak job I'd get rid of it and put in a more pruneable hedge such as yew or beech. It will be a big job so get help, or pay someone to do it. Also, consider how you are going to dispose of the branches.

You can cut at least half it's height away 30ft. to 15ft., do not cut the sides until next year. It will put on 2-3ft. again this year. When it is mild again will be a good time to do this. Don't let it dry out through the summer.

here here volunteer

The idea is she would like to keep the hedge if it can be tamed. I have done this more than once.

Millie, I would say u may be able to tame it, but that
1 a neglected Leylandii like this has probable gone too far to look nice again, we had one sounds similar to yours, and it was massive and just dreadful
2 it's going to be much harder work in the long run to keep this one and trim it, than replace it and trim that one - just bcos the rate of growth is so mad.

Then again, I'm extremely biased against the plant - seen too many bad ones. I think they are the "pitbulls of the garden" and they really will suck all the goodness out of your soil away from anything else you might want to plant near them.
Just like the poor pitbulls aswell - it's not the dog, it's the owners who mistreat them!

Nothing wrong with the tree, it's the people who plant them and don't maintain them that are the problem.

Yes that's right, there is nothing wrong with it as a tree.
If you take it right down you will certainly miss it and will lose your screen. It will take years to establish a new screen and the expense of taking out all the trees and roots and renewing the soil and new trees will be very high.

i see docs and weedings point im biast i think they should be able to get full size in the right place ie a massive garen.they certainly have a place .personaly id cut it down and start again.depends what you like realy

oh my goodness i have put the cat amongst the pigeons,so many different opinions.
Anyone know of a rough estimate to lop and trim or to remove altogether?

sorry millie i cant help you there im afraid

Millie, Bob might can help more than me there - just make sure you get several quotes. A family member of ours was amazed at the difference. And make sure too that there are no hidden extra costs lurking behind a cheaper quote.

Don't worry about cats and pigeons, GOY members might disagree, but nothing taken personally! :)) Hope it doesn't make it too hard to decide for you though. If it sheds (ha ha, gardeners joke, sorry) any extra light on the matter - I notice that I tend to demolish a bit too much, quite extreme in chopping things down or back. I hope I've not been too outspoken on this question, if I have I'm sorry. The very word Leylandii brings me out in a cold sweat, I should get over it!
You could try doing a search on the plant name, and seeing how others are dealing with similar situations - I always find that helps.

thats what i thaught weeding you also get people comming round prommising you everything and not doing most of it.i wouldnt just find out prices id ask about the job if it was up to scratch.

Hi. I'm a new member and have a similar problem with trying to maintain my Leylandii. They act as a great screen but through my own fault by not keeping on top of them they have grown very high and wild. My main problem is the long heavy branches that are hanging over into the neighbours behind my house. It involves bow saws, telescopic killers and saws and a chainsaw and some strong rope. I shopped around for prices before deciding to do it myself and I found the prices varied crazily. From one extreme to other. The cheapest guy seemed to be casing the house instead of looking at the trees and I was warned of a certain type that are not insured or certified that would be prone to having an accident and end up suing you. Getting rid of the branches is a pain with all the work involved and the trips to the recycling centre but then again it makes for good fire fodder and burns well when dry enough. Saved me a fortune on coal and kerosene for a few months and I've only got half of them done.

Leylandii are one of man`s viler creations. We have just had 3 of the devils in our front garden cut down. They were over 50 years old and had hardly been touched so you can imagine the height they had reached. If you don`t get rid, you will forever have problems keeping them in check as the growth is so vigorous.