Leylandii hedge close to house - to remove or not to remove?

[cambadvice]

Hi everyone. I'd appreciate any advice on a tree issue, please. There is a very tall (over 4m high) Leylandii hedge in our neighbour's garden which runs along the back of our house. The trunks are 3m from the walls of our house. The hedge is a little over 10m wide. The soil type is 'Freely draining lime-rich loamy soils'. The hedge has been there for over 25 years but was initially kept low. However, about 20 years ago it was allowed to grow unchecked (albeit trimmed slightly once a year). 

 

Our neighbour has now offered to cut it down and we would love this to allow in more light. But would this risk a problem with subsidence / heave given the proximity to our house? I'm unsure whether it's better to take it down to prevent this, or leave it there to avoid changing the water levels in the soil? There is currently no sign of any damage at all to our house. Our house was built about 20 years ago. Any advice on this would be appreciated. Thanks

 

 

[Deafhead]

Get it gone while you have the chance.

[maybelateron]

1 hour ago, Deafhead said:

Get it gone while you have the chance.

Completely agree

[cambadvice]

Thanks very much. Wise words!

[Mick Dempsey]

Exhibit A. 

 

 

[Stubby]

46 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Exhibit A. 

 

Bonfire Mick ?

[Mick Dempsey]

3 minutes ago, Stubby said:

Bonfire Mick ?

I wish!
Interdit Stubs.

Cut the root off and slammed it through the Schliesing.

Edited October 17 by Mick Dempsey

[Stubby]

Just now, Mick Dempsey said:

I wish!
Interdit Stubs.

Cut the root off and slammed it through the Schliesing.

I wondered . A lot of grit there . No stump grinder though . 🙂

[Mick Dempsey]

1 minute ago, Stubby said:

I wondered . A lot of grit there . No stump grinder though . 🙂

We started off cutting at the base with a view to grinding.

Half way through it became clear that we were behind schedule.

Not least because thujas are a bastard to cut low without blunting the chain.

So I had a go at yanking them out and suddenly I got that rush of endorphins you get when you know you’re going to finish early and on budget.

[maybelateron]

14 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Cut the root off and slammed it through the Schliesing.

I don't envy the Schliesing that meal.

[Mick Dempsey]

6 minutes ago, maybelateron said:

I don't envy the Schliesing that meal.

It loved it!

At least till it overheated because of a blocked radiator.

After the job was done we took it off and had it pressure tested and cleaned by pros.

Got a similar job that was scheduled for this week, but rained off.

Edited October 17 by Mick Dempsey