Can You Prune a Leyland Cypress?

Fast-growing Leyland cypress benefits from annual pruning.

For those of you who have a Leyland cypress or are planning to add one to your landscape, you may be wondering if you can prune Leyland cypress. Popular because of its fast-growing habit, pruning Leyland cypress is important for the same reason. Without regular pruning, Leyland cypress can quickly get out of control. Improper pruning of a Leyland cypress, on the other hand, can lead to disease and dieback. Knowing when and how to prune Leyland cypress is the key to this tree's success. Does this Spark an idea?

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Controlling Size
- Without pruning, Leyland cypress can add up to 4 feet of new growth per year.
  
  Leyland cypress can grow quite large, up to 20y feet wide and well over 100 feet high in some cases; unless you have an extremely large piece of property, you'll likely need to control its size at some point. Starting when the tree is young and still manageable is your best bet, followed by regular pruning each year to reign in its vigorous growth habit, which can be as much as three to four feet annually. The best time to prune Leyland cypress is during its dormant months, between November and March. Avoid pruning Leyland cypress late in the growing season, between August and October, as this can stimulate new growth that may be damaged by freezing temperatures.
Shearing
- Leyland cypress tolerate shearing.
  
  Pruning Leyland cypress into a formal hedge is a possibility because Leyland cypress tolerate some pretty severe shearing. As with controlling size, the best time to do this is before the growing period starts, generally in late winter or early spring, and then again in July to neaten up any new growth. Don't cut into old wood that has no needles. Keep in mind that shearing is stressful for the plant and will make it more susceptible to disease, so following your pruning with a preventative fungicide and checking for signs of infection, such as dieback or cankers, is a good idea.
For Good Health
- When used as a hedge, prune Leyland cypress for good airflow.
  
  If you've planted Leyland cypress as a hedge, promoting good air circulation between branches will help to prevent fungal diseases. Remove any branches that are crowding each other, allowing air to flow freely and light to penetrate into the center of the plant. In addition, immediately prune any parts of your Leyland cypress that appear dead, diseased or otherwise damaged and dispose of the removed parts in the garbage, not the compost pile.
General Tips
- Make sure pruners are clean to prevent the spread of disease.
  
  Regardless of whether you prune Leyland cypress to control size or to create a formal hedge, there are a few general tips you should follow to prevent the spread of disease. Many of the diseases that trouble Leyland cypress are easily transmitted via pruning shears, making it critical that you clean your tools thoroughly before pruning Leyland cypress or after cutting a portion you think may be diseased. Saving your Leyland cypress pruning for dry days versus humid ones decreases the chance of fungal diseases taking hold.