Leyland cypress are a popular choice for privacy screens and hedges thanks to their dense, evergreen foliage and rapid growth rate But to ensure your leylandii planting thrives and looks its best without encroaching on fences or structures, proper spacing and siting is key.
As a fast-growing tree that can reach 60 feet or more at maturity, leyland cypress needs adequate room to reach its full potential. Planting too close to a fence or structure not only stunts growth, but increases maintenance and can ultimately damage both the trees and the fence if they grow together.
Follow these tips on how far to plant leyland cypress from fences and structures for optimal growth and ease of care:
Allow Enough Space for Growth
Leyland cypress have a pyramidal form with a wide base that tapers toward the top. They are fast growing trees averaging 3-4 feet per year once established.
To allow enough room for growth, a general guideline is to plant leyland cypress at least 5-10 feet away from a fence or structure. This gives the trees space to fill out to their natural shape without encroaching on the fence right away.
As a rule of thumb, space leyland cypress about half their expected mature height from fences or structures. For example, for a variety that will reach 40 feet tall, plant 20 feet away from fences and buildings.
If planning a privacy screen, allow 7-15 feet between trees depending on the desired height and density. Closer spacing creates a tighter screen more quickly but requires more frequent pruning to control size. Wider spacing allows more room for mature growth.
Consider Mature Width
In addition to height, factor in the mature width of leyland cypress when siting them. While the trees have a narrow form, their pyramid shape spreads out substantially at the base as they grow.
Most varieties mature at 15-25 feet wide or more. To avoid encroachment on fences as the trees fill out, allow enough space to accommodate their full width.
If planting multiple trees in a row or hedge, you can space them slightly closer together since they will be pruned for control. But still allow adequate width for size management and airflow between trees.
Mind the Dripline Area
A tree’s roots often mirror the spread of its branches. For leyland cypress, plan to allow a buffer around the mature dripline or outer edge of the branches to avoid root competition and damage.
As a general guideline, plant leyland cypress trees at least 10 feet beyond their expected dripline at maturity. This prevents the root systems from tangling with fence posts or spreading under paved areas.
For privacy screens, allow a buffer beyond the projected dripline for the outer rows. Inner trees can be planted closer together since root growth is restricted.
Increase Spacing on Slopes
If planting leyland cypress on a slope or hillside, increase spacing between the trees and fences or structures even more.
Trees planted on slopes tend to grow faster on the downhill side. Allowing extra room minimizes uneven growth and prevents crowding against fences sooner on the downhill side.
Add 5-10 extra feet between trees and fences when planting on slopes or hills for best results. The steeper the grade, the more additional space is ideal.
Watch for Power Lines
Since leyland cypress grow rapidly into large trees, they are not a good choice below overhead utility lines.
Be sure to plant leyland cypress at least 50 feet away from power lines to avoid safety hazards and pruning needs as they mature. Their pyramidal form makes them prone to wind damage if topped or improperly pruned to contain size under wires.
Consider Maintenance Access
When planning a hedge or screen, make sure to leave enough space between the trees and fences to allow for pruning and maintenance access.
Aim for at least 3-5 feet of clearance between the trees and fence to get a mower or pruner between them. This makes keeping the area neat and managing the hedge’s size much simpler over time.
Proper spacing also allows air circulation to help minimize disease problems in the cypress foliage.
Provide Adequate Drainage
Leyland cypress perform best in sites with well-draining soil and adequate moisture. Avoid planting too close to fences in poorly draining clay soil, which can lead to standing water.
For optimal health, allow enough room for proper drainage and air flow. Space the trees far enough from fences and structures so moisture doesn’t accumulate between them, keeping the inner branches too wet.
Improving drainage with amendments or raised beds helps when space is limited. But allowing adequate room for air to circulate is ideal.
Consider the Purpose
Your desired goal for the planting also determines optimal spacing from fences. Some guidelines based on purpose:
- Privacy screen: Space trees 7-15 feet apart, 10 feet from fences
- Noise barrier: Allow 15 feet between trees, 15-20 feet from fence
- Property border: Space at least 20 feet apart and from fences
- Specimen/accent tree: Provide 20-30 feet between trees and structures
Allowing enough space when you first plant leyland cypress sets them up for healthy, vigorous growth while preventing encroachment on fences. They’ll quickly grow into a lush, towering privacy screen that blocks views without overtaking your yard.
You Might Also Like
Reviewed by:
To plant Leyland cypress, wait until about 6 weeks before the first frost of the season and then choose an outdoor area with well-draining soil and at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Then, remove the plant from its original container and dig a hole thats twice the size as its root bundle. Next, loosen the soil around the roots and place the plant into the hole so the top of the root bundle is about 1/4 inch below the ground surface. Finally, fill in the hole, pack the soil firmly around the roots, and water your plant thoroughly. To learn how to fertilize and stake your Leyland cypress, scroll down!
Planting Your Tree
- 1 Plant Leyland Cypress trees when they are dormant. The best time to plant Leyland Cypress trees is in fall when they are dormant. Around 6 weeks prior to the first frost, usually mid-fall, is the best time to plant. Although this is not essential, it will increase the trees chances of survival.[6]
- Planting trees outside of the dormancy period can place them under unnecessary stress. Particularly in the spring, when providing them with the amount of water necessary for growth is difficult.
- 2 Remove the Leyland Cypress plant from its original container. Tap the container on the outside the loosen the edges of the soil. Carefully slide your tree from the container, taking care to keep the soil around the roots intact and prevent the separation of roots from the tree.[7]
- If your tree becomes root-bound, use a knife to cut an “X” along the root balls bottom. Follow this by making four cuts vertically along the root balls sides.
- 3 Assess the plants root bundle to determine the size of its hole. Use a measuring tape to get a rough idea of how big the root ball is in terms of length and height. Afterwards, return the plant to the container or set it aside until youre ready to plant.
- 4 Dig a hole approximately twice the size of the plants root bundle. Use a shovel to dig a hole thats about twice the size of the root bundle to accommodate the plants growing root system.
- Use a garden fork to loosen the sides of the hole, but not so much that the sides begin to collapse.[8]
- 5 Pull up any grass and weeds in and around the hole. Put on gardening gloves and remove any weeds that you see. You can use a trowel or knife to loosen the soil around the weeds and cut into their roots to prevent them from growing back.
- Place your grass and weeds into a bucket to prevent them from spreading seeds.
- Sprinkling salt onto the bottom of weed plants can help kill them over time.
- 6 Use your hands to loosen the soil around the roots. Gently brush off soil around the root balls. Avoid damaging the roots, as this will cause the plant stress during transplanting.
- Youre always going to damage some roots even if youre careful. Just try to minimize damage as much as possible.
- 7 Loosen the soil in the region around your planting location with a tiller. Use a tiller to loosen the soil in a 6 feet (72 in) diameter around the hole location. This will ensure that your plants roots have enough space to spread out.
- Adding organic matter like peat moss, compost, or leaf mold can help loosen the soil.
- Improper root growth is one of the main causes of Leyland Cypress death.[9]
- 8 Place the plant into the hole. When placing your tree into the hole, make sure that the top of the root bundle will be approximately 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) below the ground surface.
- 9 Pack topsoil around the roots firmly. Firmly pack scoops of topsoil around the roots until they are covered and the plants crown is right above the soil line.
- Good quality topsoil will provide the right combination of nutrients for healthy plant growth and proper water retention.
- 10 Water the tree until the soil is moist to the touch. Always water immediately after planting while the soil is loose. Press the soil down gently after watering to circulate the water through the soil.
- 11 Apply starter fertilizer at the time of planting. Giving your freshly planted tree fertilizer is a great boost. Afterwards, dont fertilize it until 3 months following planting. Fertilizing earlier will promote the growth of the top at the expense of root system growth.[10]
- Use an 8, 9, 12, or 14-month slow-release fertilizer. Avoid fertilizers high in nitrogen until the tree has developed a proper root system that can support increased top growth.[11]
- Root system growth is essential for long-term survival.
- 12 Stake the tree to secure it from bending in the wind. Place 3 to 4 metal or wooden stakes around the base of the tree approximately 2 feet (24 in) away and tie each of them to the tree using string.
- Securing your tree to stakes keeps it from bending in the wind.
Advertisement Part
How to grow Leyland Cypress with a detailed description
FAQ
Can I plant a Leyland cypress next to a fence?
We suggest planting at least 8 feet from your property line. 2. Yes, Leylands are drought tolerant and low maintenance once they are established. But be sure to water well while you tree is establishing.
How far apart to plant Leyland cypress for privacy?
For privacy, Leyland Cypress trees should be spaced 6 to 10 feet apart, with 8 to 10 feet being a good average for a traditional privacy screen.
Can you plant Leyland cypress too close together?
You can’t plant a row of trees too close together or they’ll crowd each other, and the weaker ones can get smothered. On the other hand you don’t want big gaps when the trees are young. Instead, if you have the space, consider planting a staggered row. That will minimize gaps while giving the trees plenty of room.
How far to plant from a fence?
- Small trees, such as flowering dogwoods, magnolia, or smaller conifers – allow 10 feet.
- Medium-sized trees, such as fruit trees, birch trees, or larger Japanese maple – allow 20 feet.
- Large trees, like sugar maple, oaks, Gingko, or flowering pear – allow 30 to 50 feet.