PROBLEM GARDEN AND HOW TO SOLVE IT

Just to add, the 9-foot borders would be if we have all the hedges removed.

I wouldn't rush into anything. Perhaps get the hedge trimmed to start.
Get quotes from landscape gardeners and also ask around to find a good, reliable one who has done work you may be able to go and have a look at.
As for putting off buyers, I don't think a garden is as much of a selling point as, say, a kitchen but it would need to look tidy, at least.

Please do not write in capitals, it isn't necessary.

Clear the trees and plants, lay every thing to grass and find someone to come in every fortnight in summer to cut it. Doesn't need to be a gardener. Plenty of 16-18 year old boys willing to do jobs like that for cash.

When I went on holiday once, during a heatwave, I asked for help on Facebook and a nice lad, just finished GCSE's going into A levels offered to look after my garden and water my plants. it worked a treat. His parents lived in the village.

1. Since you might move on - then those leylandii might well put off some prospective buyers. Having moved house not forever ago and leylandii in a property were a thing that put me off straight away - before I got into enquiring whose problem they were (ie the neighbours or the vendors). I have my doubts many people would keep them these days and, if I'd otherwise been interested in a house, my offer would deduct the cost of having a tree surgeon remove them. So you might not save any money in the long term anyway if you keep them. If I was told, say, £2,000 (no idea how near the mark that figure would be or otherwise) to have them removed whilst I was contemplating the house I'd knock off that £2,000 from my offer - as well as whatever I was going to knock off anyway.

2. A diagram or photo of your garden would be useful - if you can find a way to attach it. I'm not sure there isnt an option 2b so to say - that wouldnt involve renovating the whole plot and might be a sight cheaper. Maybe the leylandii removed and get a huge packet (detergent size packet) of wild flower seeds to scatter on that wide border you would then have?

Sympathies with garden issues - as my current house just had a tatty concrete garden when I bought it and my heart sank. But one of the first things I did was hire a guy with a mini digger and a couple of hours later he'd dug out all of what I called "old woman shrubs" and I could see the coast was clearer so to say to figure out what to do next.

It doesnt sound as if it's a major thing to me - once those trees have gone. Might be a useful idea whilst on the subject if you do get a mini-digger guy in to have him drain and fill the pond - but it shouldnt cost too much extra to have that done as well.

Try asking a question about those on, say, ChatGPT - ie give it a description of size and style of garden and it will probably make useful suggestions as to what to do and give you a rough ballpark figure as to what your different options will cost.

I asked Chat GPT to tell me what signs there are that my retaining wall for my garden (stolen off me by previous lower neighbour) needs replacing pretty soon and it told me (yep...it does). I then asked it what the cost would be of replacing my stolen wall with the cheapest possible option. It was pretty good at asking me all relevant questions, calculating the area, telling me the options and then telling me the likely cost factors involved and how much it will cost my lower neighbours to replace my wall (now that it's not legally my property any more and so the bill is theirs).

Give it a go and ask it for its "opinions".

I just asked Chat GPT. As I didnt specify area of the Country it based it on Chester prices. It pointed out/asked questions about things like how big the trees are, what the access is like, etc.

So - based on 5 trees in Chester area it said

Easiest scenario - smallest trees/easy access/etc = £1,500-£2,500 for the full job

Next hardest to do = £2,500 - £4,000

Every possible difficulty there could be (it said huge trees/difficult access/etc) = £4,000-£6,000

So maybe I wasnt too far out guesstimating without any facts at around £2,000 I'd knock off the asking price of your house if I were buying it from you and those trees were still there.

Leylandi will not grow back from dead wood so if you cut the sides you will have bare trunks to look at. The neighbours could report you to the local council under the High Hedges act and you would be forced to cut them down to 6ft. I would take the leylandis out. You’ll be surprised how much light it will let into the garden letting other plants grow. I would have grass and flower borders. Instead of a hedge you could have a fence with trellis on the top. Another option would be a bamboo hedge which is not covered by the high hedges act. It offers privacy whilst still letting light through. It can however be invasive and you would be advised to plant it in a lined trench so it it contained.

I'm glad you pointed out re the bamboo might be invasive. That is always my very first thought re bamboo these days - I've seen some awful videos/photos of its roots spreading out everywhere.

Shame - as I quite like the look of it myself - but am none too convinced as to whether there are types of it that are "clumping" and won't spread and nor would a buyer be.

Errrrm....I would be mentally deducting from the houseprice for that too if I were a buyer - as I wouldnt be taking any chances....

I have two types of bamboo phyllostachys and fargesia. The former are planted in a trench and block off my neighbour’s unsightly garage. I cut them every year and use the canes. They are nowhere near any structural buildings.
I also have fargesia which I understood to be non invasive. It should be had not have but I can’t quite get rid of it unfortunately. I planted it in my mixed shrub border where it run amok destroying several nice shrubs in the process. I keep digging it up and cutting it but somehow it eludes me and reappears.

25Avalon

Leylandi will not grow back from dead wood so if you cut the sides you will have bare trunks to look at. The neighbours could report you to the local council under the High Hedges act and you would be forced to cut them down to 6ft. I would take the leylandis out. You’ll be surprised how much light it will let into the garden letting other plants grow. I would have grass and flower borders. Instead of a hedge you could have a fence with trellis on the top. Another option would be a bamboo hedge which is not covered by the high hedges act. It offers privacy whilst still letting light through. It can however be invasive and you would be advised to plant it in a lined trench so it it contained.

I agree with Avalon, apart from the bamboo as it is invasive.

The leylandii are in fact illegal and nothing will grow within their shade anyway.
A fence with extra trellis on the top would be better.
You'll be surprised at how much light will be let into the garden when they're gone.

It sounds as if you need to make a list of what shrubs etc you would like to keep and turn the rest to lawn with perhaps flowering shrub borders. It's easier to find someone to come once every couple of weeks to cut the grass than to find a regular gardener.

Could you extend the patio and have summer bedding in pots?

I know how frustrating it can be, wanting to sort it all out yourself, but sometimes we have to admit we need help.

Putting the title in caps is something I have always done (just for the title so I am not "shouting" at people in the text.

We have been searching for a gardener (and an odd-job man, and a cleaner) for several years but they are all too busy. I put a plea on our local FB page and contacted the four suggestions - same story. No idea where I would find a teenager to do it.

We cannot maintain borders. My DH is virtually immobile and unsafe in the garden. TBH I struggle just to survive the day as everything is down to me. In fact, mowing the lawns is the job I can easily manage. I don't want any soil in sight really as we have problems with ivy, brambles, mare's tail (front garden so far) and sycamore.

The Chester prices seem about right, but we have no "trees", just the hedges. If I have the Leylandii% taken down it will be extra cost to remove the stumps.

It is not illegal to plant Leylandii, nor is it an issue if it is taller than 2 metres unless neighbours raise an objection and the local council issues an instruction to chop it down. Another neighbour had theirs about 40 feet tall and it took the council six years to issue an order for them to reduce it and another two years before it was done.

It looks like a toss up between a mobility scooter for DH or a half-decent garden! I think we'll just have to accept a lower price for our house when the time comes. Next week would suit me fine - I haven't mentioned the interior of the house yet!

If you do decide to have the Leylandii removed or just cut down, check your Council site as they may have a list of approved tree surgeons, who should not rip you off.

Yes, I do know how difficult it can be to find someone to come and do basic garden work, rather than expensive landscapers. It seems to be a problem in many places.

I haven't mentioned the interior of the house yet!

Yes, just had some decorating done and the difference between having decorators to do it or DIY would pay for a holiday!
We used to do it better too!

I’d remove the Leyllandi they are a complete nuisance. Our previous neighbours grew them as a hedge and fortunately cut them every year. Our current neighbours also have them as a hedge and again keep them trimmed to 6ft.
It is expensive to remove trees, we have had several large ones removed due to safety issues, but once they’re gone that’s it. Personally I could not live with such an unruly garden.

J52, my DH does not agree that it's unruly - he calls it "interesting". He grew up with a 500-ft long garden and it was always a mess. I grew up with a neat postage stamp. Also grew up in a neat 2-up, 2-down, he in a ten-roomed job, mostly untidy - so untidy that they failed to spot the dry rot and woodworm in the floors!

Madmeg

J52, my DH does not agree that it's unruly - he calls it "interesting". He grew up with a 500-ft long garden and it was always a mess. I grew up with a neat postage stamp. Also grew up in a neat 2-up, 2-down, he in a ten-roomed job, mostly untidy - so untidy that they failed to spot the dry rot and woodworm in the floors!

Apart from those Leylandii, it sounds as if it's wildlife friendly which is what many people are aiming for now. 🙂

I've tried turning different little areas into wildflower havens but, quite honestly, it's harder work than normal gardening, so we've gone for bee-friedy planting instead eg lavender etc.

Although there's a wild area up in the corner but it looks too difficult to tackle, brambles, ivy etc keep growing over from the garden behind us.

Charleygirl5

Please do not write in capitals, it isn't necessary.

Neither is your comment, in my opinion!

Well, over the last few days we have managed to have two visits from a firm. First the "junior" who arrived thnking it was a quick job for a few hundred, then the boss who made it £2.

We are now toying with removing all the shrubs along the back (some half-dead and all taking up about 8 feet of depth) and the bottom leylandii hedge for that £2.5k. He won't remove the stumps but will lay a membrane and cover with gravel.

The chap at the back of us is not happy. He is coming round this afternoon to discuss. We are not friends of his, and will make our own decision, but also don't like to upset anyone. My view is that he can plant what he likes in his own garden.

My issue then is our back fence will be a boring stretch of waneylap fencing and full view to and from the house behind. We can put pots on the gravel to brighten it up but I don't think we will want to plant anything in the ground (and the membrane/gravel will prevent that.

We just want it neat, tidy and manageable, given our ages an disabilities.

What do folks think?

There will still be a couple of wild areas for the insects.

Also to add, our plan will make the shape of the garden squarer rather that long and narrow, which we think will be more attractive to potential buyers.

Can't see anything in that for Him Next Door to "not be happy" about. Does he want the leylandii to stay because of privacy concerns re his back garden? I reckon that, if that's the case, then he could plant some trees of his own (but less "awkward" ones) and maybe some nice fruit trees? Double bubble for him - as he'd get some fruit for himself if he did that.

How much extra would these firms charge to remove the roots of your leylandii? That would be the ideal thing to do - but if you can't afford it, then you can't afford it....

I think there's info. out there on the Net on DIY type stuff one can do to help tree stumps rot away over time and perhaps that's a thing you could do - ie rather than cover them up?

Oops, I meant the boss made it 2 grand.

Yes, apparently Epsom salts kills tree stumps in up to 6 months. I think they would still need removing, though not sure.

Mr HND is facing the mixed hedge from his side, which probably looks quite nice when trimmed. It doesn't affect the sun for him either (he has none!) which it does for us. Basically he has the benefit of a hedge without the maintenance or encroachment on his (smaller) garden.

Yes, privacy would be very much affected for both of us. But gone are my days of topless sunbathing! I just want a manageable garden space without the annual cost and worry.

Madmeg

Well, over the last few days we have managed to have two visits from a firm. First the "junior" who arrived thnking it was a quick job for a few hundred, then the boss who made it £2.

We are now toying with removing all the shrubs along the back (some half-dead and all taking up about 8 feet of depth) and the bottom leylandii hedge for that £2.5k. He won't remove the stumps but will lay a membrane and cover with gravel.

The chap at the back of us is not happy. He is coming round this afternoon to discuss. We are not friends of his, and will make our own decision, but also don't like to upset anyone. My view is that he can plant what he likes in his own garden.

My issue then is our back fence will be a boring stretch of waneylap fencing and full view to and from the house behind. We can put pots on the gravel to brighten it up but I don't think we will want to plant anything in the ground (and the membrane/gravel will prevent that.

We just want it neat, tidy and manageable, given our ages an disabilities.

What do folks think?

There will still be a couple of wild areas for the insects.

I easily make the garden tidy with a Keo reciprocating saw. Perhaps saw the bushes, trim the Leylandi to reasonable height and still have some privacy.

I certainly would not give a thought to future sale.

You could approach the tv garden makeover people, or write to bbc gardeners question time for advice.
I would get the Leylandii cut down.
Getting rid of them now would be the cheapest longterm.
You could use other things as a screen even in large pots .
Do not think about bamboo...
You could just cut the shrubs back hard. And have a think.

Madmeg

Also to add, our plan will make the shape of the garden squarer rather that long and narrow, which we think will be more attractive to potential buyers.

It sounds fine and I'd definitely get rid of the Leylandii, they do have very long fibrous roots which seem to go for drains, too, so just as well to have them removed.
You could tell Him at the Back that you are concerned about the roots going towards the drains and soakaways.
Keep it simple so that it is easy to maintain and might appeal to a busy family, too, of you decide to sell.

Have you got three quotes?