Leyland Cypress Trees For Georgia Yards

By Catherine Stone


Georgia is just about right for one very popular ornamental tree. Leyland Cypress trees thrive in zones 6 to 8, although they are found in a much wider range. If you are going to the expense and trouble of planting a tree or a hedge in your yard, you should check this one out. This hybrid is easy to grow and care for and very, very beautiful.

The tree's origins are known. It was an accidental cross between the Monterey and the Nootka cypress, several of each having been planted near each other on a British estate. The new hybrid was emerald green, fast growing, and had a pleasing conical shape. Because of this tendency to cross-breed, there are over 40 different cypresses today. Hybrids are mostly sterile, but new trees are readily made from cuttings.

The rapid growth and dense foliage of this hybrid form makes them great for privacy hedges or windbreaks. The tree is tolerant of air pollution, which makes it good for urban areas. It is fairly drought-tolerant, so it takes little care. It gets very tall and very wide; it can be pruned to keep it under control, but beware of crowding and of over-shadowing your neighbor's yard.

In the right conditions, this variety is sturdy and disease-resistant. It is shallow-rooted, so very strong winds are a threat once it grows over twenty feet tall. Its soft branches make it easy to prune but also make it vulnerable to damage from heavy snowfall. Homeowners in hot, dry regions should provide a good soaking once a week.

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.

A single tree can make a magnificent specimen. It can grow to 130 feet, spread to 25 feet wide, and has a naturally pleasing shape if it is nursery-grown from cuttings. Seedling trees can be more straggly. The original hybrids are mostly still alive and well in Britain, so that makes them over 125 years old.

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.

Relatively inexpensive and easy to grow, these conifers are sure to retain their popularity. Problems may arise if they grow too well and begin to shade the neighbor's vegetables. However, advance planning and occasional pruning can keep everybody happy for generations.




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