How to Care for Emerald Leyland Cypress
An Emerald Isle Leyland cyprus tree makes an elegant specimen tree in the landscape. Left unpruned, the trees grow 60 to 70 feet tall in a classic evergreen cone shape. Emerald Isle Leyland cyprus trees also make good hedges or windbreaks as they grow fast and withstand heavy, frequent pruning. Leyland cyprus grow well in warm climates but are not as cold hardy as some of the other evergreens. This species is ideal if you live in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 6 to 10. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Prepare a planting hole in a sunny location that has good drainage. Plant Emerald Isle Leyland cypress trees in the spring or early fall.
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Dig out the planting hole so that it is the same depth as the root ball of the Leyland cypress sapling and 1 to 2 feet wider than the root ball.
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Place the tree, still in its container, into the hole periodically while digging until the hole is the right depth. The base of the trunk must be level with the surrounding soil line.
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Remove the root ball from the nursery container. Turn the sapling onto its side and gently pull the pot away from the root ball. If the young cypress came in a thin plastic pot or a plastic or cloth wrap, cut the material away to minimize disturbance to the root system.
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Roll the root ball into the hole and center it in the planting hole. Avoid picking up the tree by the trunk as the heavy soil is likely to fall away from the roots. Fill in around the roots and press the soil down gently with the flat of your hand.
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Soak the area around the roots immediately after planting to settle the soil and minimize transplant shock. Then water once or twice a week for the first year, soaking the soil at least 18 inches deep at each watering.
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Spread a 4-inch layer of mulch over the soil at the base of the newly planted Emerald Isle Leyland cypress to help the soil retain moisture. Begin the mulch layer 2 inches away from the base of the trunk and extend it out in a circle 3 feet in diameter.
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Apply fertilizer in the spring, using a 16-8-8 or 20-10-5 fertilizer. Check the package for the right amount and application method.
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Reapply the mulch layer each spring for a total depth of 4 inches of mulch. Spread the mulch in an area that begins 2 inches from the base of the trunk and extends out to the area 1 to 2 feet beyond the tips of the outermost branches.
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Prune in the early spring to remove dead branches and any diseased or broken wood. When growing Emerald Isle Leyland cypress as a hedge, prune to shape in early spring and then prune again every time the growth extends more than 8 inches beyond the desired hedge shape.
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Tips & Warnings
If you intend to plant an Emerald Isle Leyland cypress tree in the summer, choose a day when the weather is supposed to be cool for a few days and plant in the evening when the air temperature is cooler.
Use seasoned manure as a mulch layer and avoid using additional chemical fertilizers. Spread a new 2- to 4-inch layer over the area each spring.
References
- Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Leyland Cypress
- North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension: x Cupressocyparis Leylandii
- University of Florida IFAS Extension Program: x Cupressocyparis Leylandii
- University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Evergreens Planting and Care
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
