Planting a hedge can quickly transform your garden adding privacy, structure, and an attractive backdrop. If you’re looking for a fast growing hedge, few hedging plants grow as quickly as Leylandii. Which is one of the reasons why leylandii is one of the most popular choices for UK gardeners. However, with its rapid growth and dense foliage come responsibilities—if left unchecked, a Leylandii hedge can become a challenge rather than an asset. In this guide, we explore the pros and cons of Leylandii hedges so you can decide if they’re the right fit for your garden.

The Pros of a Leylandii Hedge

1. Rapid Growth for Instant Impact

One of the biggest advantages of Leylandii hedging is its incredible growth rate. This evergreen conifer can grow up to 90cm (3ft) per year, making it an excellent choice if you need quick coverage for privacy or shelter. Compared to slower-growing alternatives, such as yew or beech, Leylandii can form a full hedge in just a few years rather than a decade or longer. This has obvious advantages.

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If you’re looking to screen out neighbours, busy roads, or unwanted views, a Leylandii hedge provides a near-instant green barrier without the wait. You can even buy Leylandii hedging plants that are already mature, established, and around five feet tall. This ability to create privacy so quickly is one of the main reasons for its popularity in residential gardens, estates, and commercial landscapes.

Leylandii is also easy to grow as it will thrive in just about any soil provided it has good drainage.

2. Great for Privacy and Reducing Noise

When it is established a Leylandii hedge creates a dense, evergreen screen that blocks views all year-round. Unlike deciduous hedges that lose their leaves in winter, Leylandii remains thick and green. Wonderful for ensuring your garden stays private regardless of the season.

Somewhat surprisingly the dense foliage of the hedge will help absorb noise. This makes Leylandii a great choice if your home is near a busy road. The thick greenery can dampen sound waves, creating a quieter, more secluded garden. Which is good news if you live in an urban area that can get noisy.

Leylandii is also an excellent boundary marker. This means you can divide large outdoor spaces into different areas. You can do this no matter what the size of your garden is. But if you have a larger space you can use Leylandii to zone different planting areas.

3. Wind and Pollution Protection

If you live on the coast or your garden is very exposed, Leylandii is your friend. It acts as a windbreak and will protect plants, lawns, and outdoor spaces from strong winds. You can sit out for longer and enjoy your garden more.

Because it’s so dense it will slow wind speed and act as a shield for delicate plants which are positioned behind it. This windbreak is amazingly effective and will protect plants for a considerable area. If you’ve got a vegetable garden, flower beds, or young trees, a Leylandii hedge will help protect them even during high winds.

Something you may not appreciate is that Leylandii will also trap airborne pollutants such as exhaust fumes. This will improve the air quality around your home. Which is pretty handy if you happen to live near an industrial area or alongside a busy road.

4. Shelter for Wildlife

Leylandii isn’t exactly a haven for wildlife but it still does a job and will attract plenty of interest from our feathered friends. Birds will nest in its dense branches, finding shelter from predators and harsh weather. Because it's evergreen your hedge will be a safe habitat all year-round, unlike some other types of hedging which only provides seasonal cover.

But it's not only birds which will find a home in your Leylandii hedge. Because it is so thick, all sorts of small mammals like hedgehogs and insects will crawl in there to get out of the wind and rain. You could try pairing your hedge with flowering plants or berry-producing shrubs to make a more wildlife-friendly garden.

5. Low Maintenance

Any plant which is low maintenance has to be a good thing. And despite its rapid growth, Leylandii doesn’t need much looking after as long as it’s trimmed properly. And the even better news is that it only needs a twice-yearly trim. This is usually enough to keep it in shape, and once established, your hedge won’t need much watering except in prolonged drought. As if that’s going to happen anytime soon. So, your hedge won’t take much looking after, unlike wooden fences, which may rot or need painting. Also Leylandii hedges are resilient to pests and diseases, which makes it even easier to look after.

Although it grows quickly If your Leylandii hedge is trimmed properly from an early stage it can be kept tidy and compact. But you do have to keep on top of it or it can get out of hand. But even so it is a great alternative to solid fences, which can deteriorate over the years and require costly repairs or replacements.

It’s Not All Roses: The Cons of a Leylandii Hedge

1. It Grows So Fast

Leylndii’s biggest strength is also its biggest drawback. Left unchecked, Leylandii can grow too tall and too wide, leading to an overgrown, unmanageable hedge. Mature Leylandii can reach over 10 metres (30 feet) in height. Needless to say this can block light from gardens and even neighbouring properties.

Solution: Thankfully regular trimming (twice a year) will keep your hedge at a manageable height and width.

2. The Neighbours May Not Be Your Biggest Fans

More on point one really. The UK’s High Hedges Act allows neighbours to complain if a hedge over 2 metres (6.5 feet) in height affects their light or enjoyment of their property. Which means you need to keep your hedge in check. You’ll have certainly seen news stories and social media posts about overgrown Leylandii hedges.

Solution: Before planting your Leylandii hedging plants, consider the eventual height and position of your hedge. Keep it trimmed and the neighbours sweet.

3. Those Roots Will Spread

Mature Leylandii hedging plants will develop an extensive root system. This means it can absorb large amounts of water and nutrients from the soil will can make it difficult for other plants nearby. Shallow-rooted plants, lawns, and flowerbeds may struggle if planted too close to a Leylandii hedge.

Solution:

• Make sure you keep enough space between Leylandii and flowerbeds or lawns.
• Also, generous watering can help keep the soil moist for nearby plants.

4. Not Ideal for Small Gardens

Because it grows so fast Leylandii is not the best choice for small gardens. It needs space to develop properly and can quickly overwhelm a smaller garden if not carefully managed.

Solution: In smaller gardens, think about other hedging plants like Portuguese laurel, which provide similar evergreen screening without the same level of growth.

Other Uses for Leylandii Hedging Plants

Leylandii is mostly used for a hedge but it can also be used in other ways in your garden. On their own Leylandii trees can add height and structure to any garden.

But you can also plant Leylandii in small groups within a mixed border. This provides year-round greenery and acts as a backdrop for flowering plants. They are also an excellent choice for lining driveways or pathways, forming a smart, symmetrical avenue effect.

Leylandii – An Affordable Instant Hedging Solution

If you’re looking for a cost-effective, fast-growing hedge, Leylandii offers excellent value for money. For me, the best thing about Leylandii is that provides immediate impact at an affordable price. Best of all you can but Leylandii hedging plants at different prices and sizes from small starter plants to pallet quantities of mature plants for an instant hedge effect.

At Direct Hedging Plants, we supply high-quality Leylandii hedging plants to suit all garden sizes and budgets. Whether you need a few plants for a small boundary or a large quantity for a full hedge, we have the perfect option for you.

Browse our Leylandii hedging plants here.

Is a Leylandii Hedge Right for You?

Let’s wrap things up. I think you’ll be convinced now that Leylandii hedging is an excellent choice for privacy, noise reduction, and wind protection. It’s fast-growing, evergreen, and offers fantastic value for money. However, it does need regularly trimming to manage the growth and head off any potential disputes with neighbours.

If you have the space and time to manage it, a Leylandii hedge can be a stunning, long-lasting feature in your garden. With proper care, it provides a lush green barrier that stands the test of time.

For the best quality Leylandii hedging plants, visit Direct Hedging Plants and start growing your perfect hedge today!