How far from driveway to plant leylandii UPDATED WITH PIC

VM · Hazel Tree Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 10

Hi all

The message subject is self explanatory, I just want to ensure the driveway doesn't get damaged down the line

thanks Very Happy

Liparis · Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:52 pm Post subject:

They aren't very intrusive roots, so really your most important point is how often do you want to be trimming the foliage back so you don't scratch your car, also you don't want to be so close that your trimming eventually becomes too severe, leaving you with bare, horrible dead foliage. Plant about 3' - 4 ' away from the side of the car, but it can be a "length of string" sort of question. How high do you want it? What's the soil like your going to end up planting in? How dense do you want it?
Bill.

VM · Hazel Tree Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 10

Thanks Liparis, the basis to my question is that I'm thinking of the leylandii to plant along the bottom of a steep bank that borders our house site. A part of this bank also runs alongside part of the driveway. You already replied to another question I had posted asking about quick growing inexpensive ground cover for a steep bank. It is this bank that I am considering using leylandii to completely screen as opposed to planting on the bank. I'm very new to this gardening lark so I'm not sure what the soil is like. The bank is approx 15 feet high so I want the leylandii high enough and dense enough to eventually block it from vision. I will take some photos of this famous bank tomorrow and maybe you will have a better idea of what I'm talking about and maybe be able to help further. Thanks again for answering. Very Happy

VM · Hazel Tree Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 10

here's a photo of the bank I want to screen off

this is a view of the bank from front garden

medieval knievel · Sessile Oak Tree Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 318

do you mind me asking why you want to hide the bank as opposed to plant it?

Liparis · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject:

Sorry, I can't download the picture, I'm on extremely slow rural dial-up. I think it's around 3 Mb is it? It's been downloading for about 20 mins and only about 1/8 the way.
I would give my eye teeth for a bank like that! well I do have them, but not so I can see them from the house. Don't hide it, use it. Screes, Alpine garden or just a good mixture of shrubs and ground cover. You will also get more wildlife in it than you would with a sterile Leylandii.
Bill.

verge · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:43 pm Post subject:

Hope you don't mind VM, I uploaded the pic again but smaller in an easier to view size.

cooler · Ash Tree Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 239

VM to be honest I think it would be a mortal sin to plant leylandii along the bank. you will feel boxed in and unless you are tip top on the pruning you will loose a lot of natural light. No light equals a lot of moss on your tarmac.
Why not plant the whole bank in with native willow instead, you will have light in winter when leafless and you can cut out branches occasionally for seasoning before burning in a stove.

sandra12 · Hazel Tree Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 36

Sive · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:54 pm Post subject:

I totally agree with all the anti-leylandii ideas, and would like you to imagine building a solid 20-foot wall because that is the psychological effect of a solid bank of dark green that never changes with the seasons.
Many of us with very flat gardens, would probably see a bank like this as a wonderful opportunity. Imagine it covered in shrubs,spring bulbs and some small trees...... instead of the rough grass and mowing problems that is all you see just now, quite understandably.
It would be a really beautiful feature in your garden,I'm sure of it! Good luck!

Liparis · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks verge.
Now that I can see it better, I'm afraid I'm 100% against the Leylandii. I honestly believe you will regret it in the future. Use the ideas given; shrubs, trees, groundcover etc along with hundreds of different types of bulbs. Use Dogwoods etc for their colourful stems in the winter, as well as coloured willow. Get some Salix alba in for a free supply of aspirin. Plant Rowans etc. You have a wonderful blank canvas there.
Bill.

Her Outdoors · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:37 pm Post subject:

I have to agree. We have two sloped banks at the front of our house, you can do so much with them and have colour all year. See link below.

www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=35

VM · Hazel Tree Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 10

Thanks for taking time to reply everybody. I have additional photos but it took so long uploading that one I gave up!!! I don't know if the photo I uploaded shows why I am so against the idea of planting shrubs, trees and alpines on the bank........ITS HUGE!!! Wouldn't it cost me a fortune and take huge amounts of time to take care of??? It's about 15 foot high, at a very steep angle and runs about 50-60 foot long. its even too steep to trim the grass thats on it now. If you compare it to the house, its the same height!

VM · Hazel Tree Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 10

Here's another photo, might give a better view

The Leylandii idea was my thinking that it would be the most cost effective way of screening the bank. But if you guys have any ideas that would be as cheap I'd be delighted to hear

Liparis · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject:

We all need to be cost-concious at the moment, I think we all understand your predicament here.
My plan, if it was mine would be to get my strimmer out. Spend two or three days strimming that banking as low as you can. It's going to need a heavy duty one and trust me, I've strimmed a few bankings as steep and higher, it's damn hard work. You can then see what you have.
It doesn't mater which way you work it's going to be costly.
First cost is going to be hiring a strimmer. Or invest in your own for about €400, if you will use it enough in future. Now you make your choice. Cupressocyparis leylandii are going to set you back about €6.00 - €8.00 each, depending on size you start with, possibly more, I'm not up on the price of stock in Ireland. Your going to plant them about 3' apart. How long is the drive to be planted? so work out that cost. For a hedge you'll have to plant it in one go. Behind that hedge is going to be one awful mess which means regular strimming, but there again, out of sight, out of mind. You then have your twice a year (minimum) hedge timming operation, this will be for ever. I hate twice a year trimming Leylandii, it never looks as good as 3 time per year. That driveway is going to become dark and dreary, so you will have at least an annual session getting rid of ugly green moss. Only ugly because it's on your drive, but it will be unsightly
Your next cost using this method is a beautiful chunk of land that you have paid money for and is always going to be an eyesore, if you ever see it. Believe me, don't listen to an estate agent that tells you the garen/land doesn't add value to propety, they all say that and I say they are all talking bull. Why else would an estate agent suggest you tidy a garden if you want to sell. There has never been a house I have bought that the choice wasn't made because of the garden/land. Anyway, the point being, you paid for that land and your dumping it. If you bought a car you wouldn't keep it hidden would you? Hide it and you've thrown away a chunk of money.
Second option as everyone suggets is, strim and plant as suggested. Yes, it's costly planting, probably a wee bit more than Leylandii, but not much. choose shrubs that cover a large area, Viburnum tinus, Sceneccio etc get pretty wide. A few nice cherries, ornamental crabs etc that will also take up a huge chunk. The choices are endles and you should have flowers right through the majority of the year with the right choices. But who says you have to do it all one year? Start at the place that you will see more often from your seat in the sun, go out and spend a couple of hundred euro and plant it up. Spend that year tending the area, then do the same thing with another stretch the following year, then the following year again, another stretch. People scare themselves thinking that they need to go out and plant places like that with shrubs and trees at 3' intervals. It's unlikely you will need most things closer than 5' - 6' unless your doing an alpine or scree or heather bed. Group plantings take up larger space than single plantings, so go for groups of 3 or 5 Dogwoods, Forsythia etc. plant them in a group 3' apart, but the space to the next grouping can be greater, especially if you have a birch or a crab somewhere between.
It's very easy to make the wrong decission at this time of year. There is now lots of light about and it's relatively bright and airy. Visualise a Leylandii hedge there and what it's going to be like in midwinter. Open planting will always be bright and airy.
Sorry, I've gone on rather long Embarassed