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General: Removing overgrown hedgerow in a garden

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  1.  
    Looking to tackle this overgrown hedgerow: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vw4_OA6jcoFKIn08E6apKaNtEqZUPE0j/view?usp=drivesdk

    It appears to be a mix of intertwined plants:

    Holly
    Ivy
    cotoneaster salicifolius
    Brambles
    Rose
    Amongst others

    Now I appreciate the wildlife factor, but we want to level it and grow plants of our own choice; cherry laurel or similar.

    It's simply overgrown and blocking sunlight.

    Any tips for removing it all? Some of the trunks are at least 4" thick in areas

    All material will be shredded and composted for use in the garden
  2.  
    Same for this area, appears to have been a pond that has been filled in with chippings, and the plants and trees are a bit overgrown. Just thinking of the greenest way to either trim them back or level and plant something to our choice and lifestyle.


    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wRawp2SQGq61SBzEzjjK2NeafUljarpS/view?usp=drivesdk

    It does seem sacrilege but I'm off the opinion things will grow back and we'll do our bit by shredding and seeing side areas for bugs, critters etc

    I'd possibly like to get the pond back up and running.
  3.  
    The hedge row seems to have a fence embedded in it - in which case it is probably a boundary fence.
    Is the boundary fence in the right place? If it is you would be entitled to cut back to the fence (boundary). You can probably reduce the height to what ever the local regulations allow (probably 2 M) but consult with the neighbour first.

    For the pond I would trim back to see what you have i.e. a severe haircut in the autumn and then see what emerges in the spring. Ponds can be a mixed blessing and be a haven for the mosquitoes all summer.
  4.  
    No fence in the hedge, there's a garage behind it. The 'fence post' to the right of the picture is the start of a small pergola which we have also unveiled as part of the initial tidy up for summer
    • CommentAuthorArtiglio
    • CommentTimeJul 22nd 2024
     
    Just cut it down to about a foot above ground level, then get the spade, fork and pick out and start sweating. Dig as much as you can out then use roundup or similar to deal with whatever keeps trying to grow back. The brambles will be very reslient if they’ve had several years to establish themselves.
  6.  
    Yes I think chop it off and whatever is healthy will grow back, and you can plant some nicer plants in the row. Holly makes a good hedge, but I would not have the Cherry Laurel, ever. Toxic and almost zero wildlfife value.
    What's on the other side of the hedge? Is it the garden boundary? livestock?

    I would go native mixed hedging for the wildlife value, there's so much to choose from whether you want thorny or not.
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeJul 22nd 2024
     
    Depending upon the size of the bushes and the 'truck' above the ground, leave plenty of 'trunk' above after trimming all the foliage. You can then get some great exercise by loosening the soil and using the trunk to lever the root ball, back and forth to loosen the surrounding soil.

    Not possible to get all the roots and rootlets, but after time, the main root will be sufficient loose to lever out. I also use a scaffold 'crowbar' that is very useful for applying extreme leverage below the root.
  8.  
    We've had a good bash over the garden, tidying up and other things in the house.

    Trying to work on the garden now, so this native mixed hedging... Does it all intertwine and then give different colours throughout the year? Just looking for some ideas to plant later this year about 8m worth

    Evergreen may be best if possible?

    Thanks
  9.  
    Hazel
    Hawthorn
    Blackthorn
    Holly
    Rowan
    Dog Rose

    Available bare-root from November, cheapest way (except holly, it comes in pots)

    All are native and have berries/hips/nuts for wildlife

    Double row, staggered, 5 plants per metre
    I estimate about £100
    Buy from local grower if possible for provenance, and to support local business.
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeMay 12th 2025
     
    I would agree with Dominic's list add field maple with regular winter trimming and possibly beech. Hawthorn is a pain to handle when it needs to be cut back so doing again I would leave out. ( The planners specified what I had to plant) Definitely source holly from locally raised stock as it can be difficult to take I am led to believe.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeMay 12th 2025
     
    Posted By: revorHawthorn is a pain to handle when it needs to be cut back so doing again I would leave out.
    Anything thorny can be a pain if you don't wear proper gloves. Not just hawthorn, but also blackthorn and dog rose on that list. Holly isn't thorny but it is prickly. And the brambles and nettles that will spring up also need you to wear gloves. In short, wear strong gloves when dealing with hedges!

    Thorns, prickles and stings are very useful to make the hedge impenetrable, of course. And the flowers and berries are very useful for insects and birds.

    Field maple and beech are other possibilities, as are hazel or cob nut, hornbeam, yew, dogwood, viburnum, elder etc.
  12.  
    Posted By: Dominic Cooney

    Available bare-root from November, cheapest way (except holly, it comes in pots)

    All are native and have berries/hips/nuts for wildlife

    Double row, staggered, 5 plants per metre
    I estimate about £100
    Buy from local grower if possible for provenance, and to support local business.


    Just to say I did almost exactly this about 3 years ago and mostly it has been very positive. Plants went it as bareroot 'whips' and are now up to about chest height.

    Added a few others for colour & fruit : Beech, Alder, Hornbeam, Field Maple, Crab apple, Barberry, European pear, Cherry plum, Juneberry (Amelanchier) and Wild Privet; mainly taken from a list of native varieties that are good for birds.

    What I found was about a 20% failure rate in the first year, so 10 plants of the original 50 just didn't take and we had to replace them.

    Of those new 10, probably another 2 failed the following year (again 20%). So definitely make some allowance in your time and budget for replanting some each year.

    Also, I followed some advice about a 'hard prune' which is quite counter-intuitive initially - you basically cut back the plants quite heavily after the first growing season so that they are forced to grow outwards rather than upwards. Not sure all of mine have fully recovered but it does seem to have made for a 'bushy' hedge.
    • CommentAuthorMike1
    • CommentTimeMay 12th 2025
     
    On the removal, I've successfully used a manually operated winch to pull out stubborn roots, when a pick wasn't enough. Though you do need a decently sized tree to anchor it too.

    Also consider when to do it - as mentioned above, bare root trees are aren't likely to be available until the end of the year, and now is nesting season, so not a good time to be pulling out the old. In some areas of France you can be fined for disturbing hedges between March 15th & July 31st.

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