Good hedge to replace leylandii

[Falesh]

I'd like to replace a leylandii hedge with something that will bring a bit more wildlife to our garden. One of the big appeals for the leylandii was that it only took one trim per year to keep it's shape so ideally something like that would be perfect, though two a year is acceptable. It needs to get to about 2.8 meters tall and be dense enough that you can't see through. The soil we have is pretty heavy clay and can get quite waterlogged.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Dragonyka]

I recieved a link to suttons seeds yesterday for a 'wildlife hedge' offer. Looks good to me, but I don't know how often you'd need to trim it.

[tom00_uk]

how about beech, keeps its leaves through winter in their brown state so remains hard to peep through

out neighbour has a single leylandii that's a real monster, the birds love it though it seems as all ways packed full of them, between use we have a old Buxus hedge that has turned into a monster as very wide over 10 feet in places. normally it stays green all year and lush but at present its looking a bit sorry as it lost a lot of leaves to the cold.

we have a leylandii hedge to the front of the house next to the road and it gets cut three times a year at least, it would be more but dont want to disturbed the birds, though the hedge has to be cut to maintain access to viewing the traffic sign that's positioned next to it. It seems to love where it is, could do with a cut now as its carried on growing through winter and with the birds starting to pair up we will have to tackle it sharpish.

The only issue with having so many feet of hedging is the size of the compost heap, though it does help to stop the lawn clippings turning to silage when blended together

[The Woodman]

I'm not sure how the beech would fare on heavy clay, tom00. As you say, they can make fine hedges that retain their leaves right through the winter until the new shoots break into that unique green colour. The young leaves packed into a jar and covered with gin or vodka and left until the leaves on the hedge turn brown make a beautiful drink

Another similar tree that makes an equally splendid hedge is hornbeam which might be more suited to clay ground. It too retains its leaves right through the winter, the two main differences to beech is that it has a noticeable pattern on the trunk and serrated leaf edges.

I'm looking at a fine beech hedge (my neighbours -not mine) right now and every year blackbirds and thrushes nest in it.

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by Falesh

I'd like to replace a leylandii hedge with something that will bring a bit more wildlife to our garden. One of the big appeals for the leylandii was that it only took one trim per year to keep it's shape so ideally something like that would be perfect, though two a year is acceptable. It needs to get to about 2.8 meters tall and be dense enough that you can't see through. The soil we have is pretty heavy clay and can get quite waterlogged.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Leylandii is generally planted for privacy, security and ease of maintainence, if this is the case would a native hedge really be what you need?
My short native hedge gets trimmed once a year, a layed native hedge about once every 2-3 years, if you can do the work yourself it is very satisfying and can teach you a lot about wildlife.
The Beech hedges are very nice as Woodman points out.
Have you any idea of the cost in removing the leylandii (how big is this hedge?)

[Madmills]

Removing such an established hedge properly and entirely will be very costly and i'd get quotes first before doing anything more.

Leylandii are homes to many wild birds so don't think just because they're a purely functional plant that they don't host birds, a number of small birds love these trees.

As for the choices to replace them, as mentioned in previous posts, you have to consider their specific requirements because each species will have it's many criteria.
Sometimes it's better the devil you know .....

The best hedge (for wildlife) would be a native mixed hedge but it's not going to be evergreen and if it's privacy you're after it won't provide that.

Being a keen and experienced gardener i know that these kind of decisions should be thought through for a long time before rash ones are made

[Falesh]

Hmm, you could be right about whether I should stick with the leylandii as it does fill the privacy and ease of maintenance roles very well. Maybe a better solution would be to grow climbers up the hedge, like Everlasting Sweet Pea and Honeysuckle, to provide the flowers and nectar that the leylandii lacks.

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Falesh

. The soil we have is pretty heavy clay and can get quite waterlogged.

I reckon Alder is probably your best bet in these conditions, or maybe an Alder/Willow mix Alder Hedging Plant (Alnus Glutinosa) - Hedges Direct UK
T2

[Madmills]

Originally Posted by Falesh

Hmm, you could be right about whether I should stick with the leylandii as it does fill the privacy and ease of maintenance roles very well. Maybe a better solution would be to grow climbers up the hedge, like Everlasting Sweet Pea and Honeysuckle, to provide the flowers and nectar that the leylandii lacks.

I love clematis, so i'd go for one of them !
Their clinging and twining habit would make them an ideal choice

[DoraMac]

Madmills has given the best reply to your query.

I inherited a leylandii hedge on moving home and it has been a good screen, provided good shelter and has been a good nesting place for dunnock, blackbird, robin, thrush and greenfinch.

When I first moved, I was prejudiced against this species of hedge, but after a few enquiries realised that to uproot it, or rather get rid of the stumps, and replant would not only be expensive but would be a medium to long term project.

Maybe a good idea to concentrate on other wildlife opportunities in your garden?