by James Alexander-Sinclair
Everybody knows a leylandii hedge: every street in every town all over the land has one.
In the 19th century the gardens at Leighton Hall, Powys were planted with newly discovered tree varieties, gleaned by fearless plant hunters from every corner of the Empire. Included in the arboretum were the Monterey cypress, from California and the Nootka cypress, from Alaska. Obviously, these two trees would never have met in the wild but, in Wales, they hybridised. The result was x Cupressocyparis leylandii aka the Leyland cypress aka leylandii aka "your ****ing hedge, mate".
Everybody knows a leylandii hedge: every street in every town all over the land has one. Why? Because they're ridiculously fast growing (up to one metre a year) and, being British, we don't enjoy being overlooked by our neighbours — even when the most daring thing we do is sunbathe in a vest. (The Americans are much friendlier and rather disapprove of heavy boundaries between properties). The intention, in growing a leylandii hedge, might be innocent but one small fact tends to be overlooked: the trees don't know when to stop growing and, if neglected, can reach about 35 metres high (and five metres wide). This doesn't make for good neighbourly relations.
In some circumstances leylandii can make a pretty impressive specimen tree but as a hedge in a small garden they are extraordinarily unsuitable.
Unless…
A well clipped leylandii hedge can be a thing of great beauty, but you have to be keen and diligent. If the hedge is trimmed at least two or three times a year then it can work well. The problem with this arrangement is that, firstly, you mustn't forget to clip it and, secondly, your neighbours need to do the same on their side. One of the best-looking hedges I've ever seen was of lovingly maintained leylandii. It was tight, dense and of a much more vibrant green than either yew or privet, the other 'classic' choices for evergreen hedging. But then the owner moved on and within 18 months it was a mess; two years later the new owner had given up and dug the whole thing out.
On balance, however, it's probably best to look elsewhere for your hedging material. The RHS has a good list of hedging plants.
If you still insist on growing leylandii then this is always an option, but please, please, please don't grow a variety called 'Harlequin', whose foliage looks like the aftermath of a lively stag night.
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