Leyland cypress (x Cuprocyparis leylandii) is a fast-growing conifer with dense, evergreen, green or golden yellow foliage. Its a popular choice for hedging but it can easily grow out of control, reaching heights of up to 40m, and then cannot be re-shaped to a neat hedge. Its a common source of neighbourly disputes, thanks to blocked light.
Leyland cypress is hardy, easy to grow and quick to create screening or a windbreak. However, trimming two to three times a year is essential to keep its growth in check.
Leyland cypress rapidly forms a tall and fairly slender, broadly columnar tree. Leaves are scale-like, borne in flat sprays, and give off a strong resinous smell when crushed. Clusters of small ball-like brown cones 2-3mm across are borne in summer and autumn. The species has soft, mid-green foliage, but the variety ‘Castlewellan’ has yellow-green leaves.
Leyland cypress trees are extremely popular evergreen privacy trees in many yards and landscapes. Homeowners love their attractive shape, rapid growth rate, and ability to quickly provide a lush, opaque screen
However, these trees do have one significant drawback – their branches will not grow back once removed or damaged. This can lead to frustration when lower branches are pruned or die off from shade, leaving unattractive bare trunks.
So will Leyland cypress branches regrow if cut? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Here’s what you need to know about this issue and how to maintain the beauty of your Leyland cypresses.
Why Leyland Cypress Branches Don’t Regrow
Most conifers lack the ability to produce new shoots along older branches and trunks. This is because they lack adventitious buds – small latent buds that reside under the bark and allow new foliage to sprout out even on bare stems.
Deciduous trees like maples, oaks and fruit trees have adventitious buds, which is why they can quickly leaf out even after major branch damage. Evergreen conifers like Leyland cypress only have active buds on existing green foliage. They do not have dormant adventitious buds waiting to sprout on older bark.
Therefore, once lower branches in a Leyland cypress die off or are pruned back to bare wood, that’s it – no new growth will emerge from those areas again. The tree can only generate new greenery from the tips of existing branches that still have needles.
Preventing Lower Branch Loss
Since Leyland cypresses lack the ability to regrow lost branches, prevention is key to avoiding ugly bare trunks:
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Site selection: Choose a full sun location and space trees properly to allow light penetration. Insufficient sunlight often causes lower branch dieback.
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Proper care: Water young trees consistently until established. Apply an organic mulch layer to retain moisture. Fertilize annually with a balanced, slow-release formula.
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Judicious pruning: Never trim into green foliage – only dead branches. Allow 6-10 feet between trees for air circulation.
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Pest/disease control: Monitor for common cypress ailments like bagworms, canker, and root rot. Take action early to maintain good health.
With proper siting, care, and pruning techniques, the lower branches of Leyland cypress can be retained for many years before gradual natural shading occurs.
Recovering From Lost Branches
If your Leyland cypress trees already have significant areas of bare lower trunk with no easy regrowth solution, you have a couple options:
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Replace the tree: If over 50% of the total height is now bare, start over with a healthy new specimen. Remove the existing tree and stump completely before replanting.
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Underplant evergreens: To mask ugly trunks without removing the tree, plant dense evergreen shrubs like boxwoods or hollies that can tolerate shade. Choose varieties that will eventually reach the desired screening height.
Accidental Pruning Damage
Leyland cypress branches will not grow back after improper pruning that removes too much inner foliage. To recover from accidental over-pruning:
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Make clean cut into undamaged wood to encourage quick wound closure.
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Seal large cut wounds with pruning sealer to prevent insect/disease issues.
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Allow time for gradual growth from remaining foliage – don’t over-prune further.
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Provide attentive care like watering and fertilization to encourage new growth.
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Monitor for signs of stress and address any problems immediately.
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Be very patient – it may take 2-3 years for the tree to fully recover dense foliage.
Maintaining Leyland Cypress Beauty
While Leyland cypress branches do not regenerate once lost, proper care from the start can retain their ornamental qualities for many years:
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Choose an appropriate site with full sun.
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Space trees properly and prune regularly for air circulation.
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Provide attentive care when trees are young and establishing.
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Only prune dead branches – never cut into live green foliage.
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Monitor for pests/diseases and address issues before they escalate.
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If lower branches die or are damaged, consider underplanting or replacement.
Leyland cypresses may not regrow lost branches, but following best practices will allow you to enjoy their rapid growth, graceful form, and dense screening abilities while avoiding ugly bare trunks. With some patience and TLC, these elegant evergreens can remain an asset in your landscape for years to come.
How to prune Leyland cypress
Trim both the top and the sides of a Leyland cypress hedge, two to three times during the growing season, avoiding spring when birds are nesting. Make the last cut of the year in early to mid autumn. Cut the sides on a slight slope so the hedge is wider at the base than at the top: this allows even distribution of light and shedding of snow in winter.
To achieve the desired height when the hedge is young, allow growth to develop 45cm above the final level before cutting back. Take great care to observe safety precautions when using powered hedge trimmers and when working off the ground. To tackle overgrown hedges, reduce the height to the desired level and trim the sides back as far as possible without cutting back into bare wood beyond the foliage.
Wear gloves, and clothes to protect the skin, as contact with foliage may cause skin irritations.
Size, height and spread of Leyland cypress
Leyland cypress grows extremely vigorously, easily reaching heights of 10m in as many years, and several metres wide. Older trees can attain heights of 20-40m, depending on growing conditions, and several metres wide. The rate of growth per year is around 75-90cm. However, regular trimming several times a year from an early age keeps Leyland cypress compact, restricting growth to as little as just 2m high.
Why Are My Leyland Cypress Trees Turning Brown And What Can I Do About It
FAQ
Do Leyland cypress branches grow back?
The leader shoots will also grow back very quickly at a rate of three feet a year so that in four to five years they will be back at 25 feet again.Jan 1, 2013
Can brown Leyland cypress be saved?
If you’ve recently transplanted a Leyland cypress, browning can occur as the tree adjusts to its new location. This is typically a temporary condition, and the tree should recover with proper care and attention. Ensure it receives adequate water, mulch the base to retain moisture, and avoid disturbing the root system.
How to revive a dying Leyland cypress?
How Do I Treat for Leylands Turning Brown? If your Leyland cypress tree has browned, you can’t reverse the damage already there. Allow for new growth before pruning. If the branch has sustained damage too severely and you don’t see any, try pruning higher on the branch where you can still see green.
Do cypress trees grow new branches?
Cypress trees are narrow-leaf evergreens. Like other narrow-leaf evergreens, cypress do not develop new buds on the older wood. That means that cutting new shoots back to the branch may result in bare spots on the tree.