Hedge Replacement – A New Hedge Instead of Thuja
Hedge replacement is our most popular service: we remove the old, dried-out hedge, prepare the soil and plant the new hedge in the very same job. You have just one thing to do – choose the new plant.
The key step of a replacement, and one many people skip, is replacing or improving the exhausted, root-filled soil with a nutrient-rich planting medium – without it, new plants struggle to establish, which is why it is part of every replacement we do. The plants we install are covered by our guarantee, and the quote covers the entire process – there are no extras afterwards.
What to plant instead of thuja?
In place of a dried-out thuja row, it pays to choose an evergreen that copes with Hungarian summers and winters and doesn't go bare within a few years. Our four best-proven hedge plants:
- Cherry laurel – the most versatile: large glossy leaves, grows 40–60 cm a year, tolerates almost any soil and forms a solid 2–3 metre wall.
- Leyland cypress – the fastest: 80–100 cm of growth a year, tall screening within a few years; needs 1–2 trims a year.
- Photinia – the most striking: its red shoots renew after every trim, ideal for sunny spots; we don't recommend it for windy sites or frost pockets.
- Columnar yew – the shade-tolerant one: fits even into narrow spaces and re-sprouts even from old wood; slower, but holds its shape for decades. It is poisonous, so for families with small children we suggest something else.
Not sure which one to choose?
We look at the site, recommend a plant and give you a price for the complete replacement.
Evergreens instead of thuja: how soon does each close up?
Beyond the species, the time to close up depends mainly on the size planted. With smaller, 60–100 cm plants a closed hedge forms in 2–3 years, with medium sizes in 1–2 years, and with 150–200 cm cherry laurel or Leyland cypress the screening is impressive in the very first year. Leyland cypress grows the fastest and yew the slowest – but in return, yew needs the least trimming.
How much does a complete hedge replacement cost?
The price of a replacement has two parts: removing the old hedge (felling, root removal, haul-away) and planting the new one (plants, soil replacement or improvement, planting). Both are determined by the length of the row, the size of the plants, the condition of the soil and accessibility. In a hedge replacement package, the two jobs together cost less than doing them separately, and the quote covers the entire process.
Hedge Calculator
Work out how many plants your hedge needs and what your quote will include.
Your quote lists each of these on a separate line:
- Plants: Cherry laurel, 20–30 plants, 100–150 cm
- Soil preparation and planting medium – 10 m
- Planting, watering-in, mulching on request
- Delivery and call-out
- Felling the old hedge, root removal, haul-away – 10 m
Indicative estimate: we determine the exact layout and number of plants at the on-site survey.
How the replacement works
For an average family home, the complete replacement is finished in 1–2 days:
- Free on-site survey, plant selection and itemised quote
- Felling the old hedge and removing the roots
- Replacing or improving the exhausted soil with a nutrient-rich planting medium
- Planting the new hedge along a string line, watering it in and mulching
- Drip irrigation installed on request, handover with a care guide
What's included
Where do we carry out hedge replacements?
We work within roughly 100 km of Keszthely. Our local pages:
Frequently asked questions
Which hedge is best to replace thuja?
No single choice suits every site equally well: cherry laurel or the fast-growing Leyland cypress for sunny, open spots, photinia for a striking entrance, and columnar yew for a shady, narrow strip. At the survey we recommend a plant based on aspect, soil and the height you want.
How long does a hedge replacement take?
For an average family home, removing the old hedge and planting the new one takes 1–2 days.
Why does the soil need replacing after thuja?
The soil under an old thuja is exhausted and full of root remains. Without replacing or improving the soil, new plants struggle to establish, so this is part of every replacement we do.
Do you guarantee the new hedge?
Yes, we guarantee both the plants we install and our work. The guarantee is conditional on following the care agreed at handover, above all regular watering.
Replace your old hedge in a single step!
Request a free survey – we will inspect the old hedge and give you an all-inclusive quote for the replacement.
Request a quote
