Finally removing last of the big trees around my house

[Kram]

I also have 2 dogs, and they make a beeline to truffle out the output as cat poo is a amazing treat for a dog apparently.

French dogs are as strange as their humans, it seems, in a different way of course...

 

[JOEPRO]

I did speak to my neighbour who's garden and house backs onto this boundary last night. I had told him a couple years back why I was planting the laurels so it was no surprise that the trees are now coming down. I said it will take me 6 or 8 weekends to clear the whole lot myself.

His only request was that I leave the green mesh in place permanently to stop the laurel branches poking in between the fence boards which is fair enough. Otherwise he is fully aware we are both going to be a bit exposed for the next couple of years!

It will be hard to get used to going from a shear wall of trees and privacy to almost nothing until the laurels grow up. But it's a necessary thing and the end goal will be a far better solution than what is there now for both of us. He is looking at bare tree trunks on his side.

So yeah I plan to take as many branches off as I can before then at one end and begin covering over the fence then chainsawing down 2 or 3 trees each weekend working my way across the boundary.

 

[Old Dog]

You could always take out every other tree to allow light onto the Laurel and allow them to grow.

 

[colnerov]

I also have 2 dogs, and they make a beeline to truffle out the output as cat poo is a amazing treat for a dog apparently.

Ours used to do the same with the fox poo as well. I think it's a territorial thing, the opposition is laying down a marker of their territory, so the dog has to remove it or cover it.

 

[mark roberts]

Please dont top a conifer, its an awful thing to do to the tree. It will cause the top most branches to grow wide, all of the branches to grow extra wide and heavy. They cant grown new shoots like a broadleaf and will suffer greatly. The new top will dogleg and look awful.

What you can do is raise the skirt upto 1/3rd the height of tree as maximum. Or you can remove some alternate branches to thin it a bit. Its a complex subject so please look it up as I cant cover it all in a forum post.
Too many people jump up a 50 or 100 year old tree and start cutting without a care how it will respond.

You can do a lot of effective shredding with a chainsaw. Be very careful not to hit the ground or other objects. Build a pile of brush and chop it at about 100mm long intervals and repeat at 90 degrees. You will get 10x more in a bag, green bin or over a rail fence line

They have already been topped off twice in the last 20 years, and then neglected again. The top most branches then curve upwards and start reaching for the sky.

 

[JOEPRO]

They have already been topped off twice in the last 20 years, and then neglected again. The top most branches then curve upwards and start reaching for the sky.

I'm also not sure what the alternative is with old conifers.... let them grow 90 foot and the bottom dies anyway?

Very poor screening trees for a domestic house IMO. These ones of mine are reaching for the sky like no man's business. It is impossible to comprehend from my photos just how much material I am going to have to remove now. Shocking.

Hence why I want to just take the pain now and get them all down and gone.

 

[JOEPRO]

Only problem with laurel is it needs a sharp hedger, often if they are well worn commercial hedgers it will bruise the leaves more than cut them, but I suspect yours is nice and very sharp

You did remind me



Stihl only about 3 years old but a sharpen didn't go amiss. Easy with a die grinder and small stone

 

[mark roberts]

I'm also not sure what the alternative is with old conifers.... let them grow 90 foot and the bottom dies anyway?

Very poor screening trees for a domestic house IMO. These ones of mine are reaching for the sky like no man's business. It is impossible to comprehend from my photos just how much material I am going to have to remove now. Shocking.

Hence why I want to just take the pain now and get them all down and gone.

I do find a cheap recip saw with a decent blade chomps very easily through conifer and is very controllable at close quarters.

 

[hollow]

Did a similar job in my parents a few years ago albeit with smaller trees. Found the stihl weedeater with small chainsaw attachment brilliant. Keeps you away from the business end. Leylandi are a curse.

 

[JOEPRO]

Update- I got the first roll of the green mesh attached to the fence. It is what it is really - just a good way to provide me and my neighbour with privacy in the immediate for the height of the fence at least. When the laurels get going they will cover it up on my side anyway.



Whilst it looks "not ideal" it has significantly improved the fence in that you could easily see through the large gaps and now you cannot see anything through the fence gaps at all. So all good.

Tonight I did also have a first proper trial of my rebuilt MS201T and my used ebay purchase MS391 saws. Both are running and cutting amazing and will make short work of this! The MS201T is a real ripper, it surprised me how powerful that little saw is. It is a professional grade saw I guess so maybe I shouldn't have been surprised. It is putting out proper shavings nearer to French fry shape and size

I got 3 of the old dead tree trunks felled tonight. If the weather doesn't pour again on Saturday will get properly stuck in then and maybe get the first 6 or 8 trees down and into the log store or trailer as the case may be.

 

[JOEPRO]

Weather was good today so I got stuck into this properly. 3 full trailer loads emptied and 4th loaded up. Most of the tree trunks were actually dead in there when I started really getting into it.



The windows in the other neighbouring house below are in a double height space so they can't look out of those.



My house is much more exposed now until the laurels get up but then I knew that was the trade off. The difference in light to the back rooms in my house however is incredible. Really nice to see the sky seated inside my house now.

I'd say I am about 40% through it. I was doing this myself today and I'm totally spent now so I'll chip away at it after work each evening next week and clear the ground as far as possible. And if the weather is good next Saturday get another full day at it.

 

[Kram]

The MS201T is a real ripper, it surprised me how powerful that little saw is. It is a professional grade saw I guess so maybe I shouldn't have been surprised. It is putting out proper shavings nearer to French fry shape and size

Are you noodeling? That is to cut along the length of the grain which produces long noodles. Ripping up logs along the length, that would be abusing a top handle saw

If you dont already have experience its worth finding a local arborist or trainer and learning the basics, top handles are easy to use wrong and it does not end well. Particually using it one handed, my friend has severe wrist athritis from excessive one hand use.

If your crosscutting then the chips will normally be short, 1cm or so, depends on the tree and the chain being sharp will give longer chips than a blunt chain.

I always lived in small terraced houses with not much of a garden or privacy, and I dont really see any need for it?!
My neighbours are not the best but we get on ok, no problem if they see me in garden.

 

[JOEPRO]

Are you noodeling? That is to cut along the length of the grain which produces long noodles. Ripping up logs along the length, that would be abusing a top handle saw

If your crosscutting then the chips will normally be short, 1cm or so, depends on the tree and the chain being sharp will give longer chips than a blunt chain.

No comment

Saw is running great and well looked after so nuff said. It'll be one I hang onto for a very long time.

 

[JOEPRO]

This is how far ive got so far clearing the stumps as close to the ground as I can before hiring a stump grinder at the very end.



I'd say I am at about the 50% mark now. 4th trailer loaded and will empty tomorrow after work then start loading again. At least I can take comfort in the fact this will be the last time I'll be taking away trailer after trailer load of conifers and beech trees from around my house

I am going to collect 12x more Laurels to fill out where I left off before.

 

[JOEPRO]

Update:

It may not look like it but I got another 3x loads away again yesterday and about another 6 trees felled.



Privacy is becoming a real problem as from inside the house at the higher finished floor level me and both neighbours are looking directly into each other's Kitchens! The first floor windows overlooking my rear yard I can live with but not the kitchens so I'll add another 1m of the green screen on top of the fence locally to provide cover for the next couple of years until the laurels get up above the fence.

I was also looking at various small garden feature trees to add in along this stretch to add some interest. Some great choices although a bit spendy at £55 - £60 each but potted ones now will likely take off quicker than rootball in winter. I have room for about 5x trees as I'll be building a summer house so need to leave room for that.










The burgundy cherry tree is definitely one or two of them. (I have the regular cherry trees around front) and Rowan tree. She wants an apple tree too. Decisions decisions - it'll be another 3 weeks or so until I'm ready for them anyway.

Another good reason to get the potted trees locally is that I can pick a good strong and full tree in each case which is hard to do in rootball season.

 

[JOEPRO]

I said I wanted to extend the netting higher for a couple of years until the new hedge gets up above the fence.

Neighbours agreed so I'm putting it up todaya and privacy is being restored for the immediate.

 

[JOEPRO]

Trying to breathe some life into the laurels which were behind the trees for 2 years. I spread a good dose of Growmore fertiliser granules around them a week back. And added a strong does of liquid plant food for good measure and will do so again in a couple of weeks time.

I also set up an auto irrigation system with drip hose to try and boost them for the last month or 2 growing left in the year





Sure would be encouraging to see some fresh shoots on them. These are the most stunted ones due to being in very dark spot before.

 

[Turbo]

Trying to breathe some life into the laurels which were behind the trees for 2 years. I spread a good dose of Growmore fertiliser granules around them a week back. And added a strong does of liquid plant food for good measure and will do so again in a couple of weeks time.

I also set up an auto irrigation system with drip hose to try and boost them for the last month or 2 growing left in the year

View attachment 463595

View attachment 463594

Sure would be encouraging to see some fresh shoots on them. These are the most stunted ones due to being in very dark spot before.

Don't worry too much, once they get going the laurel will grow like a weed. In a few years time you'll struggle to keep it trimmed enough and probably regret planting it.

 

[addjunkie]

Hope your not in a windy area, the fence has gaps to reduce windage and allow the wood to air extending rot time. Adding the gale breaker fabric has in effect turned your fence into a big sail, extending the height will add a lot of load to the post soil interface, where they rot most and tend to snap.

Trellis and climbers might have been a better long term height extension. Alternatively stop the “naturist” cooking, then the neighbour seeing in wouldn't be an issue!

 

[JOEPRO]

Don't worry too much, once they get going the laurel will grow like a weed. In a few years time you'll struggle to keep it trimmed enough and probably regret planting it.

You may not remember when you were here but I have laurel hedges already for over 10 years and find maintenance AOK for me.

Hope your not in a windy area, the fence has gaps to reduce windage and allow the wood to air extending rot time. Adding the gale breaker fabric has in effect turned your fence into a big sail, extending the height will add a lot of load to the post soil interface, where they rot most and tend to snap.

Trellis and climbers might have been a better long term height extension. Alternatively stop the “naturist” cooking, then the neighbour seeing in wouldn't be an issue!

The mesh let's wind through just fine and if there is any sort of damage I'll repair it no big deal.

Neighbours sent messages of thanks and said it was a great job. We were all used to a massive wall of trees so the mesh works great for now until the new hedge comes up.

So much light into the house now with the old trees gone, really great to see and have that ground back. Will be going on Saturday to get some new small ornamental garden trees.