Hello - I'm new to the forum and not a gardener so need some honest advice.
Lat year I employed a gardener to dig out a border around the outside of my garden and plant Conifers in the hope that they would "grow veryquickly and provide a bit more privacy from the neighbours etc" as promised by the gardener. The Conifers ere his recommendation.
Some of the trees have done well however the majority are dead or going brown and look like they will die.
I have therefore asked a new gardener to come around and get some suggestions.
He was amazed that the older gardener had suggested Connifers and told me that building regs state that Connifers shouldn't be planted within 26 feet of the house and can cause serious damage to my patio and house as the roots grow out rather than down. He told me that I had been taken for a ride and said that he will have to take all of the trees away, dig out the soil to make sure no virus can be there and said he would replant Grisalenia as they are much better - at a cost of £1,000
Can somene please advise if this new gardener is telling the truth?
Seeing as some of the connifers look strong, can I not just replace the dead ones and keep the cost down?
Also is it true that the guys who origionally planted the trees shouldn't have done so due to building regs??
Also, quite a few weeds are growing in between the trees - am I able to spray a weed killer around the connifers that will kill the weeds and not the connifers?
Also is there anyhing else I can do that will ensure a healthier life for the connifers?
Sorry about so many questions!!! All advice is much appreciated.