Question

Evening all!  I have two giant - 8ft wide x 11ft tall - conifers in my front garden acting as a hedge.Evening all! I have two giant - 8ft wide x 11ft tall - conifers in my front garden acting as a hedge. They are obviously green on the outer branches, but further into the trees, it’s just brown (dead? ) branches. Does anyone know if I cut them back and square them off, will the trees grow green again or will they stay brown? ‍♀️ Thank you in advance!  

Answer 1

No, if you cut back into the dead stuff they wont regrow.  

Answer 2

No if Brown thay stay Brown

Answer 3

Thank you all! They’ll have to come down then ‍♀️ Oh well, god job my husbands a bricklayer. Thanks again  

Answer 4

If you want to replace the conifers with something for another screen the Western Red Cedar looks similar but you can cut back hard and they will regrow

Answer 5

I have a similar question please? I have 2 that have grown really tall in a teardrop shape. If i chop the top off (the thinner bit) will they survive? Thanks

Comments

@nickolai6 I’ve chopped the top of mine several times and they survived. They do grow back a funny shape though! The top of mine - from the bedroom window - looked like a big bird had nested in it!  

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@fungus6 thank you  

Answer 6

No they won't. They should have been cut earlier.  

Comments

@hottentot I inherited them when I moved here. Maybe the previous owners preferred them taller

Answer 7

No. Once brown will not grow back green. You can cut the top down. But not in. I would try and thin it out if possible to help the green grow.  

Answer 8

We have some near us and they were cut back and I noticed they are growing again . green . not sure why then Maybe cut them back anyway and see wot happens . then take them out if they don't G

Answer 9

I had ours cut down out the front as it was an eyesore and way too big. I love nature and my gardens but I have a passionate hatred towards conifers lol. They have no wildlife benefits, birds don't nest in them and they draw all the water from around them so not much else grows. I'd get rid, you'd be surprised the amount of extra light and space you get.  

Comments

Plants drawing a lot of water are of great benefit in the UK!  

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@barnsley it’s reason why my area is flooding, need more trees

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@bohun4886 we've lost loads of trees due to railway lines and massive newbuild housing estates which contain no greenery at all

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@barnsley we’ve lost 3 50 year old oak trees due to “cheapest option” as they are near the road. Not their fault the road was built near it  having new builds being accepted on flood plane land. My area is marsh land. I feel for the families  

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@palestine Thanksler Parks Birds do nest in them. We have hundreds of nests every year in ours. They also stop our garden from being a quagmire. Think everyone should plant them looking at our flooded england.  

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Conifers in particular leylandii are a nightmare as far as I'm concerned. People just plant them with no clue as to how huge They get/how much damage the roots cause if near a house. I will always have hate for them. Love trees, hate conifers  

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@palestine Thanksler Parks Must admit I do keep rolling out of bed at night and we only get about an hour of daylight each day. X

Answer 10

Probs stay brown i had 3 infront garden had em cut down n shredded been in since tiny

Answer 11

The advice from the police is to have a clear sight of your front door from the road. To deter burglars.  

Answer 12

Just to clarify. I will only be taking the tops off as they are way too tall. I will not be removing them. I love trees!  

Answer 13

Generally if you cut into brown on conifers they do not green up. If you cut the top of they should bush out and you might get some new green growth.  

Comments

@shelah8056 thank you. They are all green to be honest. Only the inside near the trunk are brown

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@nickolai6 that's good. They are good trees when looked after properly.  

Answer 14

Have a wonderful neighbour who hacked ours now dead on his side.