How to Take Care of an Italian Blue Cypress

Italian blue cypress trees are dense, tall, slender trees.

The Italian blue cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is a tall, very slender tree with striking, blue-green needles. Native to parts of Western Asia and Europe, this tree averages around 40 feet tall but has an average width of only 3 feet, according to the University of Florida. The trees are often used to frame architectural features, especially in formal gardens, or they are planted close together to form screens. The height and distinctive profile of the Italian blue cypress makes it somewhat difficult to place successfully in most home landscapes.

Things You'll Need

• Organic compost
• Watering tools
• Pruning tools (optional)
• Insecticide (optional)

Instructions

1. Expose your Italian blue cypress to plenty of sunlight. Make sure any nearby buildings or other trees do not cast a large amount of shade on the Italian blue cypress. These trees need a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day.

2. Provide nutrients for your tree. Place organic mulch around the tree over the root zone (a foot or two outside the edge of the tree's canopy). The layer of mulch should be 2 to 3 inches thick. This helps the soil retain moisture and slowly add nutrients. Although these hardy trees will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, they grow best in soil that is rich in nutrients.

3. Water your Italian blue cypress during long periods of drought. Otherwise, these trees thrive in moderate to dry conditions and need very little supplemental watering. Once or twice a month is more than sufficient, according to the University of Arizona.

4. Prune sparingly, if at all. These trees do not need to be pruned in most cases, according to the University of Florida, except if a branch is broken or diseased.

5. Watch the cypress for signs of a bagworm infestation. Bagworms can quickly defoliate a tree. Look for the white eggsacks attached to the needles. Remove as many by hand as you can, then spray the tree with an insecticide as soon as the remaining insects hatch.

Tips & Warnings

• Italian blue cypress trees grow best in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) growing zones 7B through 11.

References

• University of Arizona: Cupressus sempervirens
• University of Florida: Cupressus sempervirens
• Floridata: Cupressus sempervirens

Resources

• National Arboretum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map