Everything You Need To Know about Leyland Cypress Trees

Leyland cypress trees are low-maintenance, fast-growing evergreens that create excellent living fences in just a few seasons.

Written by Brenda Woods Updated 05/23/2024

Leyland cypress trees are fast-growing and lush with blue-green foliage. These trees keep their needled leaves all year, creating a natural privacy screen when planted close together. Although they’re easy to maintain, pests and disease can sometimes be a problem. Below, we’ll cover how to grow and care for Leyland cypress trees and what steps you can take to protect them from disease and insect infestations.

Leyland Cypress Trees at a Glance

Fast growing

Low maintenance

Excellent for privacy screens

Green year-round

Salt-tolerant

Shallow roots

Appearance

Leyland cypress trees grow in a pyramidal, conical shape with flattened sprays of bluish-green, needled leaves.

They grow to an impressive height of 40–60 feet if not pruned down, with a spread of 15–20 feet. Growing 3 feet or more by their second year, Leyland cypress trees achieve this great height quickly.

Leyland Cypress Tree Specifications


Appearance	Pyramidal/conical shape with needled, bluish-green leaves
Height	40–60 feet
Hardiness Zones	Zones 6–10
Type of tree	Evergreen conifer
Sunlight requirements	Full sunlight to partial shade
Soil composition	Adaptable to wide range, prefer well-drained
Lifespan	10–25 years

Hardiness Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones show the best regions to grow various types of plants. Leyland cypress trees thrive in Zones 6–10, across a large swath of the country from the West Coast to the East Coast, with greatest growth from Zones 6–8.

Planting

The best time to plant your tree is during its dormancy in mid-fall. Plant your Leyland cypress tree in an area with well-drained soil that receives full sunlight to partial shade. Don’t plant your tree directly on the property line, because this fast-growing, massive tree can grow onto your neighbor’s property.

Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball. You want to plant the tree so that is even with the surrounding soil. Gently tease the roots of the tree before you place it in the hole to encourage the roots to grow outward. Backfill the hole with the soil you dug out, and create a ring of mulch around the tree, not letting it touch the trunk. Water your tree every day for one week, then water every other day. By the third week, you can water as needed.

Quick Tip

If you plant multiple trees, space them out 6–10 feet apart.

Growing Conditions

Leyland cypress trees have a reputation for being low-maintenance, as they’re adaptable to a range of sunlight and soil conditions. They don’t even need pruning, unless you want to achieve a specific, consistent height.

Leyland cypress trees flourish in full sunlight—at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day. They can also tolerate partial shade.

The soil must be well-drained, but other than that, Leyland cypress trees aren’t picky. They will grow in a wide range of soils, including alkaline, acidic, sandy, clay, and loamy.

Water your Leyland cypress tree deeply and irregularly, about once a week, giving it about an inch of water total each time. As your tree ages, you can give it water less frequently. Do not use an irrigation system, because that can overwater your tree and lead to root rot.

You should fertilize in early spring, before your Leyland cypress tree has new growth. Use a slow-release, balanced fertilizer with an NPK value of 10-10-10. You don’t need to fertilize every year, however.

If left unpruned, Leyland cypress trees will reach great heights. However, they will maintain their pyramidal shape without any intervention. If you want a hedge of a certain height and to encourage dense growth, prune your tree annually.

Additional Care

Leyland cypress trees are relatively low-maintenance, but they’re becoming increasingly prone to disease and insect infestations. If you’re wondering how to keep your Leyland cypress tree healthy, follow the tips below:

Consult an arborist when you notice signs of an insect infestation, such as off-colors, slow growth, fine webbing on branches, and dead branches.
Irrigate Leyland cypress trees during semi-drought conditions, watering close to the base to keep the branches dry.
Plant trees with enough space between them to maintain air flow so that they don’t get stressed as they grow.
Prune diseased branches immediately, about 3–4 inches below the sick tissue, and sterilize pruning tools after use.
Surround your trees with mulch to at least the drip line to reduce water evaporation.
Use fertilization sparingly to avoid disease.

FAQ About Leyland Cypress Trees

How far apart should you plant Leyland cypress trees?

To give them adequate room to grow, you should plant Leyland cypress trees at least 6–10 feet apart.

When is the best time to plant Leyland cypress trees?

Plant your Leyland cypress tree in mid-fall when it is dormant.

How long do Leyland cypress trees live?

Leyland cypress trees live about 10–25 years.

Do Leyland cypress trees have invasive roots?

Leyland cypress trees have a shallow, non-invasive root system.

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