At Iron Creek Farms we have been growing Leyland cypresses since 1989.  Though we still grow them in the ground to be cut as Christmas trees, most of our production now is trees in containers – intended for use as Living Christmas Trees and as landscape plants. 

I need to make my bias clear from the outset.  I love Leylands.  I like to see them growing and I believe they make wonderful Christmas trees.  They make attractive specimen plantings and are widely used as screens and windbreaks.  Given enough room, enough sunlight and a minimal amount of care they can become truly spectacular. 

The tree pictured on this page is our “yard Leyland.”  It was planted in its present location as a fourteen inch rooted cutting in January 1991.  This picture was taken in June 2002 and the tree was then about twenty three feet high.  Once or twice when it was smaller I noticed a branch or two growing in a direction I didn’t want and I cut those off but that was the only pruning this tree has ever had.  It has never been sheared for shape. 

History – The Leyland cypress is a sterile hybrid, a true intergeneric cross.  Though it is the offspring of two trees that grow in America, the Monterey cypress and the Alaska cedar (also called Nootka cypress), the cross was discovered in 1888 on the Leighton Hall estate in southern Wales.  The first introduction into the United States was in 1941 and Leylands were introduced at the U. S. National Arboretum in 1953. 

There are now a number of cultivated varieties (cultivars) of Leylands, including some variegated cultivars and some that are at least partially gold or yellow in color.  The most popular cultivar is Leighton Green and is the cultivar most widely used as a Christmas tree and landscape plant. 

Planting and Care – We recommend that Leylands be planted only in well drained soil.  Our own experience is that, if planted in an area that stays wet, they die.  I have seen Leylands growing well at another farm in heavy, poorly drained soil, but the trees were in rows that had been “bedded up” and the roots were apparently able to stay above the water table.  

To plant, dig a hole the same depth as the pot the tree is in and about twice or three times as wide.  Buy a bag of pine bark mulch and mix it half and half with the soil taken out of the hole.  Take the pot off the root ball and place the tree in the center of the hole so that the top of the root ball is even with the surrounding soil then fill in around it with the soil/mulch mixture.  Tamp the area carefully to remove air pockets.  Water thoroughly. 

Fertilizer – In our climate Leylands have two major growth flushes, one in mid March through May and another in mid October. However, our trees only seem to really stop growing when the daytime temperatures are in the mid nineties and above.  The application of fertilizer should be timed to take advantage of growth periods and a small amount applied at reasonably frequent intervals is better than a lot once or twice a year. 

Leylands are not picky eaters so use whatever fertilizer you like and carefully follow the directions on the package. 

Water – Leylands like to eat and drink, they just don’t like wet feet.  In the summer time Leylands are probably going to need some extra watering, particularly the first summer or two.  We recommend the use of soaker hoses.  These can be coiled in a couple of loops around the base of the tree and in many cases left there without being in the way of lawn mowers, etc.  Also, people who work away from home can open the faucet just slightly before they leave, allowing the water to run all day at a very low rate, then turn it off when they come home. 

Again, in our climate at least and assuming a well drained location, I’d recommend watering at least once a week and perhaps twice a week during the hot months. 

Diseases and insects – Like all plants, Leylands can be affected by certain diseases and some insects.  Spider mites and common bag worms are two pests that can infest Leylands though both of these seem to be a bigger problem in tree plantations than in landscape plantings.  Certain fungal diseases will also attack stressed trees when conditions are right.  Insecticides, miticides and fungicides can be purchased at your local garden center and a preventive spraying in the spring and another in the early summer may be helpful. 

Most problems with Leylands that we encounter here and have seen at other farms have some sort of moisture problem as their root cause – either too much or too little.  Leylands planted in a sunny, well drained location and watered regularly generally do very well. 

Questions and comments – We welcome your questions, comments and experiences with Leyland cypresses.  I have read and been told that the Leyland is now our most popular tree.  Whether that is true or not, Leylands are certainly an exciting factor in our American landscape and indications are this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.  If I can help you solve a problem or if you’d care to share a Leyland-related experience, feel free to contact me by E-mail. 

See the “Recommended Reading” page for additional sources of information.

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Last modified: November 08, 2004