Need Advice On Moving A Hedge

I planted a common maple hedge in my garden around 10 years ago, it was initially used as a wind break to protect delicate plants.

However, I want to change the design of the garden and move the hedge because;

1. it needs it

2. I can't wait for a new hedge to grow to maturity as there is a 16 story block of flats behind my house (I live in the middle of the City), and why waste money anyway when I have a hedge already?

3. the Leylandii trees (About 25ft high and 8ft wide now) at the back of my garden are far too large for the garden and making the area under the trees and beyond bare, dry and uninhabitable for other plants.

So I want to move the Maple hedge to the back of the garden once the Laylandii trees have been removed.

The maple hedge currently has about 3 & a half ft (Height) of dense interwoven growth with a further 2 and half feet of light unwoven growth from last year after I let it grow (In prep for moving it to the back), and is about 2 and half feet wide, and planted in a single row about a foot apart from each other.

My questions are:

(1) How likely is it I could move the hedge without having to clip it and cut through the interwoven branches? If I had to cut in places, which I think may be an inevitablity if I want to move it, will I be able to keep the height?

(2) After being there for 10 years, 11 this Spring, is it even a good idea to try moving it?

(3) What's the best time to do this? I'm assuming not right now? I was told on another forum I'd have to leave it untill December?

(4) If I do manage to move the Hedge will it create the same dry inhospitable conditions the Leylandii trees did once the Maples get larger?

(5) Am I right in thinking that the Common Maple Hedge will grow as large as Maple trees, as common maples are nothing but maple trees but kept purposely small?

I have thought of moving the Maple Hedge to front of my garden and buying a new hedge for the back, one that grows thick and fast. But I haven't found many that would grow that fast from being young plants or even 3 to 4 years old. I know Bamboo's a good one but I can't afford that. Any ideas on something else I could use that's cheap and will grow fast to a height of 20ft in 2 to 3 years?

This is my Garden in 2010, it's basically the same as now except the Laylandii are larger and the hedge is larger too with about 2 feet extra with thin growth, as stated above. (NOTE: The plans stated in the video have changed since I made the video).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5hxusrNhvA

Thanks in advance for anyone helping me!

- Phil

Well you have a job on there!  Suggest you move the hedge in the winter!  Dig down both sides of the hedge now to form a gully maybe three / four inches wide, about foot or two away form the hedge cut through the roots and infill with sand and grit.  The plan being that the roots will become fibrous this summer ready to be moved in the winter. Even better would be very early Spring, March time. It is possible to shift hedges with this sort of prep. In Holland the tree nurseries move their trees every few years to keep the fibrous roots growing and that's how they can then sell fully grown trees to be planted in towns. Cut off the top growth this year or better weave it in, yes the trees/ hedges have the potential to get very big but weaving and shaping will keep it down.

bamboo grows very fast and you wouldn't need many plants, depending on the variety it can also be very invasive so take care!

Hiya Flossie!

First of all, thank you for taking time out to reply to me! :O)

Digging down both sides to form a gully and to backfill it with grit and sand will be difficult as one side of the hedge borders a paving walk way. Though I assume doing one side would make it a little easier when it is moved?

How likely is it the Hedge will survive if I moved it now or in early Summer?

I could have done it in March? I was going to move it in March this year untll I was told on another site and forum that It wasn't a good idea and the ideal time would be December. Because I wasn't able to do it this year I've had to leave my re-design of the garden untill next, which is a little annoying because it means another year of a almost bare garden and a design that hasn't changed since 2001.

I wasn't that fond of Bamboo because the plants I was looking at were a little expensive and the bamboo screen would look a little out of place in my garden for me, I wanted to keep a English/European look.

Just in case I have no choice or I lose the hedge when I move it, which variety of Bamboo would you recommoned? One that provides privacy and grows fast!

Thank you for your suggestions and help! :O)

- Phil

I would leave it until next winter, it's likely to be shocked badly moving now, particularly with the lack of rainfall at present!

re the bamboo and to keep the English theme if you can't save the maple hedge why not use native hedging whips which are very cheap to buy in the winter.They will grow away very quickly on a well prepared site.

Next Winter it is, then. Though I'm not sure what I'm going to do in the mean time. May post for ideas in another forum.

Native hedging whips? I'm not an expert in them but wouldn't they take a while to get large enough to cover the area I want (20ft high by 10ft wide)? I know gardening is about patience, but there's a huge block of flats I'd like mostly hidden for privacy reasons.

However, I do like the idea of native hedging. Which would you recommend and which ones (If any) grow the fastest and largest?

Also, sorry for more questions and thank you for your help, if you have the time. :O)

- Phil