Plant Taxonomy of Leyland Cypress:
Plant Type for Leyland Cypress:
Characteristics of Leyland Cypress:
Planting Zones for Leyland Cypress:
Sun and Soil Requirements for Leyland Cypress:
Landscape Uses for Leyland Cypress:
A common landscape use for these trees is planting several Leyland cypresses along a border, in order to create a privacy screen. They are also used as windbreak trees. Since Leyland cypress trees are amenable to shearing or pruning, some homeowners take this a step further and turn such a border planting into a formal hedge. It's advisable for most folks to prune Leyland cypress trees early and often; otherwise, they tend to get too tall and overwhelm a landscape.
Problems With Leyland Cypress:
Steve Nix lists a couple of problems with Leyland cypress trees:
- They're shallow-rooted, meaning they can topple over easily
- They're susceptible to canker
To deal with canker, Steve recommends, "You should always destroy diseased plant parts and try to avoid physical damage to plants. Sanitize pruning tools between each cut by dipping in rubbing alcohol or in a solution of chlorine bleach and water."
Ornamental Value of Leyland Cypress:
Meaning of the Name, "Leyland Cypress" :
Bottom Line on Leyland Cypress:
How badly do you need fast growth? That's the question you have to ask yourself before planting Leyland cypress trees. They'll give you that fast growth, but you'll pay for it in terms of maintenance. The height of Leyland cypress trees can be controlled (I grow mine as a multi-stemmed shrub), but only through persistent pruning that commences when the plants are young.
Trim the sides of Leyland cypress trees every year (July is often recommended as a time for general pruning). After the leader has reached the height you want the tree to retain, make a pruning cut a few inches below that (which will leave room for the vertical growth of minor branches) to preclude any further significant upward growth ("pollarding").


