leylandii RIP

[vanessa]

Hi, I'm another newbie,

I hope I'll be classed as self sufficientish. We live in a village of 200 residents in the middle of the peak district. Our local town has NO allotments what-so-ever. Perhaps they figure with all the farm land surrounding the town there's no need?? None of the local farmers/landowners want to rent little strips of land, so with no other option and no back garden either, we've started turning our front garden over to food production.

This week my brilliant hubbie dug up eight 20ft leylandii trees and we're now shredding them (huge satisfaction). I've ordered an edible hedge to replace it and I'll be under planting with raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants and herbs. Last year he also made us 6 deep, raised beds that are sitting on what used to be the drive. We planted loads of dwarf fruit trees apple, pear, plum, hazel and even a peach tree by the warmth of the house. We managed to buy them for £5 each so nothing ventured nothing gained!

We're also trying to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible. Our latest success was insulation....huge difference. We've also gone down to one small car. With a family of five and only one bus a day serving the village...it took some getting used to but the savings far outweigh the hastle!

We bake some of our own bread, Paul brews wine from the hedgerows and I make jam, chutney, and pickles. We used to have chickens in our old house but not sure about having them in the front garden here.

Well I think that's me for now

Will using the leylandii as mulch acidify my soil?

Thanks for your great web site and heres to a sunny summer PLEEASE!
_________________
think big, live small.

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[old tree man]

Hi and welcome


Russ

[Silver Ether]

heloo ... you sound like you have been really busy... I like the idea of growing in the front garden as you will often have some passerby to chat to ... well don for riding the planet off laylandii

[red]

welcome

we hate leylandii too - neighbours have let theirs go and they are about 90 ft tall.. garden is in shade by 4pm sigh.

[snapdragon]

welcome in - and congratulations on the done and dusted leylandii

I would think the acid could be neutralised somewhat if you compost them first rather than spreading them 'raw' but am not certain - hopefully a clever gardener will know .....

[SarahJane]

Hi Vanessa, I am also in the Peak District, trying my best at being self sufficient-ish.

Where abouts are you?

[ina]

You could always add a bit of lime, if it gets too acid... Or just use them around plants that like it acidic, like blueberries.

[oldfella]

Hello Vanessa Wellcome, I bet you get some looks from the local folk
Good for you

[vanessa]

I think the neighbours are interested, mildly alarmed but tolerant (at the moment) and yes we have lots of chats including, alarmingly, when hanging out the washing. Now the leylandii have gone am having to hide the smalls in the middle of the whirly-gig. Such is life!!!

Happy chocolate fest one and all!!!!

Vanessa

[Thurston Garden]

Ahoy Vanessa!

Well done on the Leylandii! We have about 8 trees that have to come out too. Too many other things on at the moment though

[gigglybug]

Hello and welcome Vanessa

Amanda

[Millymollymandy]

Hi and welcome!

[Peggy Sue]

Our neighbour has a massive leylandii that was shading the garden a bit when we moved in 5 years ago, but now you have to try hard to get the sun at all- I'm having solar put in this spring and will be miffed if it affects that!

I heard somewhere copper nails hammered into them at midnight kill them The midnight bit is only so you don't get caught!

Welcome!

[the.fee.fairy]

Hiya

Please..tell me more about the edible hedge!! I want one when we eventually move!!

Well done on the fruit trees for a fiver! I'm trying to work out how much root my gooseb erry and blackcurrant have to see whether i'll be able to take them with me...

Keep up the good work!

[Peggy Sue]

I moved a blackcurrent and gooseberry last year that had been in 4 years, the blackcurrent especially was huge and tehy both seem happy enough