Brent Wilson · Gardenality Administrator · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Planting
Plant Leyland Cypress in locations that provide well-drained soil and full sun to mostly sun. The more shade the thinner they grow. This is a tall-growing evergreen good for use as a tall screen or buffer to block an unwanted view or as a sound, dust and wind barrier. Make sure to space them 8 to 10 feet apart to allow for good air circulation. When planted too closely together seiridium cankor can be a problem.

To plant, dig a hole no deeper than the root ball and two to three times the width of the root ball and fill it with water. If the hole drains within a few hours, you have good drainage. If the water is still standing 12 hours later, improve the drainage in your bed, perhaps by establishing a raised bed. Turn and break up the soil removed from the planting hole. If the native soil removed from the planting hole is compacted or heavy clay, mix in organic compost at a 25 to 30% ratio to condition soil. Remove your plant from its container and carefully but firmly loosen the root ball. Set the plant into the hole you've prepared, making sure the top of the root ball is slightly above the soil level to allow for settling. Pull your backfill soil mixture around the root ball in the hole, tamping as you go to remove air pockets. Then water thoroughly and cover with a one to two-inch layer of mulch.

Brent Wilson · Gardenality Administrator · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Feeding
I recommend feeding Leyland Cypress twice a year: one time in spring and again in late summer with a slow-release, well-balanced shrub and tree type fertilizer. This keeps foliage nice and green and steadily increases an already fast growth rate.

Spencer Young · Gardenality Genius · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Pruning
no pruning needed, just cut away dead or broken branches or stray ones.

Brent Wilson · Gardenality Administrator · Zone 8A · 10° to 15° F · Comment About Problems
When spaced properly I haven;t seen too many problems with Leyland Cypress. When spaced too closely together the plants will trap heat and humidity and seiridium canker can develop. This canker can cause serious damage or death of the tree and can be identified by patches of dead leaves and sores on the branches that ooze a sap which falls to lower parts of the tree.