Leyland Cypress Tree Variants & Care Tree Varieties About Leyland Cypress Trees The Leyland Cypress tree is a stately, pyramid-shaped evergreen. It has a rapid growth rate (3 feet or more per year) and dense structure, making it ideal for use in privacy screens, windbreaks and hedges, and is used for Christmas tree production in some parts of the country. A single tree is also an impressive addition to the landscape. It has feathery, soft pointed needles arranged in flat sprays on long thin branches. Needles retain their rich color year round, starting out green in youth and turning a dark bluish-green hue as they mature. The tree’s needles release a pleasant fragrance when broken. These trees should be grown in full sun to light shade and tolerate most soil types. They are deer resistant and drought and salt tolerant making them easy to grow in many areas. How large do Leyland Cypress Trees Grow? Leyland Cypress Trees can grow up to 60-75 feet tall with a 10-20 foot, canopy spread. Leyland Cypress Tree Care Prune your Leyland Cypress tree when young to encourage stronger growth and to minimize snow and ice damage. Regular fertilization, watering and pruning helps keep trees healthy and better able to tolerate stress and insect and disease conditions. Newly planted trees benefit from ArborKelp®, SavATree’s exclusive seaweed biostimulant which aids in tree establishment, promotes root growth and heightens stress tolerance. Mature and established Leyland Cypress trees benefit from fertilizer feedings of organic-based macro and micronutrients for the nutrition necessary to sustain their health. Leyland Cypress Tree Pruning This tree is a fast growing tree that can outgrow a small surrounding and shape if not pruned. Pruning is recommended to preserve or improve tree structure, vigor and life-span. Pruning can also reduce specific defects or structural problems in a tree to greatly lessen the risk of failure. Broken, diseased, or dead branches are typically removed in order to prevent decay-producing fungi from infecting the wood in other areas of the tree. Also, removal of live branches is occasionally necessary to allow increased exposure to sunlight and circulation of air within the canopy. This assists in reduction of certain diseases. We also advocate the removal of branch stubs to promote successful and proper healing over of wounds. Your SavATree certified arborist is equipped with the latest techniques and state-of-the-art equipment to keep your Leyland Cypress trees healthy, beautiful and safe. Contact us today for information on pruning or any of our other Leyland Cypress tree care services. Prevent Leyland Cypress Tree Diseases & Pests There are several damaging diseases and pests that affect these trees. Some of the most common are: Seiridium Canker – This destructive disease forms cankers on the stems, branches and branch axils causing dieback. Signs of Seiridium canker include scattered reddish-brown branches. Immediate pruning of diseased areas can help stop the spread of the disease. Cercospora Needle Blight – This fungus starts in the lower crown causing needle browning and then spreads upward and outward. Look for interior needles that turn yellow and then fall off, usually during October and November. Botryosphaeria Canker – These trees are at risk for this disease characterized by dead reddish-brown branches and twigs occurring in otherwise healthy foliage. Long, narrow cankers covered with tiny bumps may also appear on the trunk. This disease tends to attack trees that are already stressed by wounds, other diseases or insect infestations. Other Leyland Cypress tree diseases and pests include: Root Rot Bagworms Spittlebug Spruce Spider Mite Juniper Scale Cypress Weevil Bark Beetles Minute Cypress Scale Don’t let these diseases or pests destroy your precious Leyland Cypress trees. If you suspect a problem with your trees, call a SavATree certified arborist right away for an evaluation and treatment options. Our Leyland Cypress tree care experts can help protect your trees and keep your landscape beautiful. Diseased photo: Leyland Cypress Canker 0590018 by Whitney-Cranshaw,-Colorado-State-University,-Bugwood.org Other Common Tree Varieties in the US Apple Trees Ash Trees Birch Trees Common Persimmon Trees Dogwood Trees Elm Trees Japanese Maple Trees Lilac Trees Maple Trees Oak Trees Pine Trees Plum Trees Sycamore Trees White Oak Trees Willow Trees Common US Tree Varieties Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an expert arborist.