Hmmm. I can't answer your question but might it look better if you stopped the hedges on either side of the trees?

Possibly. I wouldn't rule that out if my original plan is a high risk manoeuvre. Cheers.

It kinda looks like the pines used to frame a central gate. Is that right? I think Neryl is right that stopping them either side of the trees would look better. Maybe a fountain or large rose bush in between the pines? I can't quite picture what you are suggesting but having trees poking through the hedge sounds a little strange to me :).

They look like Swane's Golden Cypress and probably did flank a gate.

Is there a footpath or garden outside the fence?

Yeh, there is a footpath on the other side of the fence.

Hi Someone Else

I think that's a great idea. Murrayas and Lilly Pillys always look fantastic as a privacy screen or hedge and your plan to grow the hedge in one continuous stream would look awesome. I think the suggestion of stopping the hedge either side of the pine trees would somehow make it look disjointed. So brilliant. Go for it!

Cheers, I'll take a trip down my local nursery to see what they think. Maybe I'm not so bonkers after all!

This is sort of what i had in mind without the fancy topiary of course, but the pencil pines appearing to be part of the hedge but rising out...

Thanks Arthur, what you've said makes a lot of sense. That's the difference between a Garden Designer and a bloke with some gardening tools & eyes :)

I better put a bit more thought into this I think. I'm actually not all that fond of the Pencil Pines myself so they could go, but I've already cleared out a fair bit from a pretty dysfunctional garden so am mindful of being one of those gardeners who just chops things down.

If it's possible to do something about it I don't think you should work around someone else's planting which you don't like. After spending a lot of effort and money you probably still won't like the result if you don't like those particular plants.

I don't know where you live but there are companies who remove advanced plants and sell them on. If you're in Sydney, Alpine Tree Removals (9652 0300) might be interested.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/7f/52/10/7f521049ad75e69181f25f428b50f361.jpg

i'm in Adelaide so might look up some of those services. You've got me thinking maybe i might do away with the roses too (as I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with roses) and just start with a blank slate.

Sounds like a pretty good idea

You might find someone who would take the roses. Check with your neighbours or the local garden club.

There used to be a club in Adelaide that took mature plants from properties that were going to be demolished. They then sold the plants to raise funds for their charity. I cannot recall the name, sorry!

ETA: I think it was this group

https://www.facebook.com/Unley-Gardeners-Plant-Rescue-410026472492996/info/?tab=page_info

I do know someone who might be keen to take your roses if you don't find anyone local. Just message me what you'd like for them and I'll check with her.

I do understand your reluctance to just "chop things down". At home, we've had to take out a lot of plants to put in a new fence. (Not by choice either. Council had us move fence line). I'm not particularly fond of some other plants here but hate to be taking out more and more.

Personally I love the idea of different plants growing out of hedges, and have done it myself but using frangipanis in a japanese box hedge, and personally i think it looks fantastic, however other people think its a bit odd :) Try your idea first, and if it fails, then deal with it. Best to buy a couple of spare hedging plants and pop elsewhere in the garden so that they grow at same rate and can be transplanted if required. Always a good idea in case one of the plants fails anyway, which happens!!!