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| Some years ago I planted 8 Leyland cypresses, the regular not the dwarf kind. These I planted when they were very small, only about 1 foot high, in a zig-zag row. But each was separated by only 4 to 6 feet from the neighbors. I did not expect them all to survive as I neglected them after planting. But all did survive and thrive. Now they are about 6 or 7 feet tall. And they are going to crowd each other. So I am considering cutting down 3 or 4 of them to provide ample room for the others. But I want a dense screen.
Generally, the advice seems to be that Leylands planted closer than 10 feet from each other will die eventually and all will have to be cut down. But I have seen very large Leylands with main trunks only 4 or 5 feet apart apparently doing well, with lower branches having been cut. I would prefer the latter but can it be done, and how? What is best from here on for me to do? Any thoughts, advice, comments on this will be appreciated. Thank you. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| "Leylands planted closer than 10 feet from each other will die eventually..." This is absolutely true, but it is also true that Leylands planted farther than 10 feet from each other will die eventually. :-) Leylands are considered by many to be a very poor choice. With all their pest and disease issues, I tend to agree. I would probably never choose Leylands for a privacy screen, but if that's all I had to work with and was in your situation, I would remove every other tree. Doing so will allow a little more branching, and, at least for a short time, look less like a crowded hedge. |
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| They are regularly cut into formal hedges here, some very tall, so I don't really understand the assertion that they will die if planted close together. The recommended spacing is 2 - 3 feet for a hedge, as opposed to a row of individual trees, and they certainly don't die. We often wish they would. |
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| Wisley has had a short tight clipped hedge of it for years, if they are still maintaining it. Suitability for making closely planted sheared rows of it are actually its main contribution, when other uses are attempted is when it often falls down - sometimes literally. |
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| Thank you for all the suggestions, comments. Sometime between now and early Spring I'll make a decision about what to do. I want a hedge about 10 feet tall, and I assume that Leylands 10 feet apart will fill in the spaces nicely. I like the look of the trees and have noticed no problems: all seem robust, a healthy green. I have two others which are about 15 feet tall and are appreciated by birds apparently for their protective density. |
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