Yes, those are Leylands and they can get three times that size, possibly more, depending on where you are located. They are immensely prunable but once started, it only seems to encourage more vigorous growth, so to keep at any manageable size you will need to do at least annual pruning.

I guess it's a bit of a cost versus benefit analysis. Do you want to incur that sort of annual expense because the trees provide a decent privacy screen or can you do with something less high maintenance and replace them, understanding that you will lose whatever privcay screening these currently provide?

It is probably best if you prune them clear of the sidewalk and maybe someday the street. Otherwise big government might come do it for you and leave you with guilt for having others take care of your property, poorly done work, or even the bill.

Besides that it is a great looking row. I prefer mixed plantings but yours is working as a privacy barrier.

If this is an annual job, we are talking about $700+/year just to trim the sides...lol that's a lot of money to maintain the trees on an annual basis...We so did not expect this when we bought the house! the previous owner told us that these trees maybe need a hair cut every 3-5 years LOL

Why do you feel you need to prune them?

Just let them grow naturally.

Hi tlbean2004, as you can see in the picture, my trees have already grown out to the sidewalks. Plus I am afraid they are more vulnerable to fall during a snow storm if they have overgrown. I'm just not sure if they are considered overgrown now...and how much i should cut the sides...

They are not at thier full grown hieght yet. And i think that having to trim them every year is kinda a downer. I would get rid of them and plant something that will not get so big like the "blue point juniper".

Although the cypress look nice, the previous owners should have planted then a bit further back.

Good Luck!

presume that cost will double in a few years ... and triple thereafter ....

and it will be at least once a year.. for the rest of your life ...

get rid of them ... one time cost .....

improper plant.. in the improper place ...

and dont go all guilty on us... plant something better for the site ... mother earth net zero ...

NEVER LIVE WITH THE PRIOR OWNERS MISTAKES .... if they had left you paisley 4 inch shag carpeting.. you would change it out ... why not outside ???

one thing you might do ... is remove every other one.. and get some replacements in.. and once they get going.. remove the other in a year or two ... but then.. you would have to pay for the trimming of those remaining ...

think outside the box you are in ....

ken

That's too nice of privacy just to cut down. I'd run out and get an 18ft Electric Pole Hedge Trimmer and get those under control myself! At 20ft you can still get them under control and formed into a proper hedge, wait any longer in that will explode into full size trees.