How to Move a Large Leyland Cypress Tree in North Carolina
Leyland cypress trees are very popular in North Carolina for landscape screens and hedges. The landscape in North Carolina ranges from coastland to mountains. The respective soil types are factors when moving a Leyland cypress. The biggest problem will occur on the coast, which receives lots of rain but has areas without good drainage. There, move the tree in the fall. In the mountains, move the tree as soon as ground thaws in early spring, but before the new growth starts to form. The process in this article is best used on trees that have a trunk with a diameter of 4 inches or less. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Sharp spade
- Burlap
- Twine
- Crane (optional)
- Cart (optional)
- Truck (optional)
- Slow relaese fertilizer
- Mulch
Instructions
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1
Pick the site to which you will move the Leyland cypress. The site should have good sun, soil and drainage. Leyland cypress will develop root rot on the North Carolina coast if the roots sit in too much moisture.
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Measure and mark a circle around the tree, enclosing two-thirds of the the area covered by the tree branches. Dig a trench along the circle with a sharp spade. From this trench dig under the tree roots, wrap the root ball in burlap and tie with twine. Wet the burlap to keep the roots from drying during transit.
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3
Dig a hole with a sharp spade at the site three to five times the width of the root ball, but only as deep as the tree was in the ground before the move. Put one-eighth cup of slow-release fertilizer in the hole and wet the soil. Build a mound in the center of the hole to spread roots over for support. Add some backfill dirt to about 1/3 of hole. Water gently to get any air holes out of the dirt.
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Move the Leyland cypress tree from old location to the new location. Get help with lifting the heavy tree. If tree is large and heavy, use a crane to lift and a cart or truck to transport. Rent a crane and cart at a North Carolina equipment rental center.
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Place the tree into the hole, undo the twine, loosen the burlap and backfill in increments with soil removed from hole. Make no adjustment to the rocky soil in mountainous areas; the tree must remain in native soil in order to survive Fill around the bottom part of the tree roots, water and pack soil to get out air pockets and ensure good soil-root contact. Repeat this process around the middle of the root ball. Finish filling the hole and repeat the soil-root contact process.
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6
Water the tree and add 3 inches of mulch around the base of tree. During the first year after transplanting, water the tree whenever the soil under the mulch gets dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Fertilize Leyland cypress only once a year in the spring.
The smaller the tree the better chance the tree has of surviving a move.
A cypress with a trunk larger than 4 inches in diameter will have a better chance of surviving if moved by a profession tree mover.
Note the mark showing the height of soil around the trunk in the tree's original location. Add no soil above that mark in the tree's new location.
Leyland cypress uproots easily in strong winds that sometimes hit the North Carolina coast.
