Pruning evergreens?

Question:I have a hedge of Leyland Cypress at the border between my front garden and the pavement. Unfortunately, it has been neglected and is overgrown. The height is no problem as it has been cut back, however, the trees are so wide, they are encroaching on the pavement and I need to cut the width back by around 2 - 3 feet. However, I've heard that if you cut the trees back in this manner, green leaves will never again sprout from the bare wood and you're forever left with a brown hedge. I need to cut the trees back but I don't want to lose the hedge and don't want it to look ugly. What should I do?

Answers:
Leyland Cypress is a plant that can grow VERY fast -- from cuttings to 15 to 20 feet high in 5 years! Most are planted as quick screening!!

In gardens, it reaches 60-70 feet tall and 8-15 feet wide; can be pruned into a tall (10-15 feet) hedge but will quickly get away from you without regular maintenance!

This is NOT a timid plant!

I think that you have a tough question here. If you keep the plant to 8-15 feet wide, will it stay off your pavement?? If the answer is "NO", then it means that someone planted an "inappropriate" plant as your hedge!! (Or at least too close to your pavement!).

So you need to decide how much you want to "fight" this plant in the future! Being "brown" on the bottom is only PART of the issue here!

Good Luck!!