To Cupress or not Cupress

Today has started in the garden with a large tree lopping tool and a garden saw.

We are blessed (!) with two cupressus hedges either side of our back garden that were out of control when we moved here a decade ago. Through borrowing a (not very sharp) chain saw from a neighbour, I managed to get the height down to about 8 to 10ft tall, for both hedges, and continued to trim up the sides on a regular basis.
The problem is that cupressus don't stand still- you blink and they are 15ft tall again. One hedge faces on to a green with walnut and horse chestnut trees, planted by the original householders when this small estate was built, so it only causes a nuisance to the local authority grass cutters who wizz around on large multibladed powered lawn mowers.

The other hedge bounds on a neighbours garden, and was heavily lopped and trimmed a few years back before the present neighbours moved in.

Last year we had an extension built on the side of the house in a largely dead space and some of the hedge had to come down (hurray!) to make way for the scaffolding, but because of the building work and (also to save money we fitted out most of the interior ourselves) the garden took a back seat.

Of course aformentioned cupressus hedges have taken full advantage of this and have outdone themselves in growth and because they are so wide , I can no longer safely reach from either side on ladders or platforms, to cut the top growth down, so the decision is that they will have to go!

Now this in itself is a mammoth task , and there are some garden hazards - sheds, oil tank, greenhouse, existing flower beds , dog - yes Rosie likes to help or get in the way depending on your viewpoint -and also I had to recently construct a new higher dog proof fence to keep her in the garden on the green side (she can leap 5 ft in the air from standing, no need for a run up for her) so this needs protecting also.

                                            Rosie sitting still for a change.

We are reluctant to remove the hedge in many ways- it does provide sound proofing qualities, and cuts down the wind, it is a haven for birds, not so much for nesting, but as a shelter and transit point from garden to green, but it also badly shades the lawn - we have the best moss for miles around - and sucks up all the water from the soil underneath, so nothing wants to grow.

So today I started to tackle two trees who's branches had overgrown the oil tank, and also encroached severely on an overgrown  flower bed. This has just been dug over for re-planting and I discovered the bed  had been much wider originally than it is now, by maybe 5 or 6 ft. , as the edging continues under the hedge.

Having cut/lopped the side branches off, I am about to bring out the trusty chain saw (mine, not the neighbours) to progressivly cut down the trunks.
At least it's pleasant out and not raining, thats something to be positive about.

It will be a stage by stage gradual lessening/removal of the hedges so more at a later date(s)