About Leyland Cypress Trees For Georgia Gardens

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By Catherine Stone


A tree is an major investment of time and energy, so it pays to choose the right one for your garden. Leyland Cypress trees can make a living fence or privacy hedge. An individual one can be a striking focal point for your landscape. This cypress originated in Great Britain, and it's eminently suitable for most of Georgia's regions.

This extremely popular variety of landscape tree is not native to anywhere. The first examples of this conifer (cone bearing evergreen) grew on a British estate as a hybrid between two cypress species. Some Monterey cypress were planted near some Nootka cypress and they cross-pollinated. The new trees were emerald green, well-shaped, and extremely fast growing. Other landowners had the same serendipity; there are over 40 types of the species today.

People who wanted fast-growing evergreens for hedges, privacy fences, and windbreaks soon found that the Leyland was perfect. Its tolerance for salt spray and air pollution made it perfect for coastline and urban gardens. Except in very hot and dry regions, it requires little care. It grows so fast that sometimes it causes problems; a neighbor might find that the privacy hedge next door cuts off all his sun.

The tree is sturdy and not prone to many diseases if well situated, but it is shallow rooted. A strong wind may blow it over after it gets tall, and it is subject to damage from heavy snows. Because of the shallow roots, it does not do as well in extremely hot and dry climates. However, watering once a week can overcome this difficulty.

They grow up to four feet a year, increasing in diameter, too. A mature Leyland can be over 100 feet tall and 25 feet wide. They don't like wet soils but otherwise are remarkably tolerant of soil types. Georgia's planting zones are perfect, since the tree prefers zones 6 to 8. However, you find Leylands all over from zone 5 to 10. Full sun is best for these fast-growing evergreens, but they can make do in light shade.

Although most people recognize this tree as a hedge or planted in a line along the border of a property, it also makes a magnificent specimen when planted alone. Nursery-grown plants are started from cuttings rather than from seed and have a fuller, more symmetrical shape. If conditions are ideal, it can reach a height of over 100 feet and spread to 25 feet around. Most of the original hybrids are still alive in Britain, which makes them about 125 years old and still going strong.

If you want a dense, vibrantly green hedge, get starter plants (these should still be grown from cuttings) and space them at least five feet apart. Plan to prune them so they won't outgrow their space; pruning will keep the height under control and help each individual tree to fill in all the space around it. If the cypresses are set too close together, the lower branches may die, leaving the hedge scraggly and less protective.

The popularity of this tree is partly because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to grow. However, their beauty also makes them desirable. In Georgia, homeowners should check their planting zones, make sure that such a vigorous variety won't shade neighboring properties, and make sure the plants they choose are started from cuttings. If conditions are favorable, the Leyland cypress should be a joy for many years to come.




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