Correct spacing of Leyland cypress trees is critical. The height of the target determines the separation distance. How tall do you need them to grow? If a 14 ‘row of Leyland cypress trees will provide you with the privacy screen you want, be sure to “EXCEED” when they reach that height. Actually, you need to let them grow about a foot taller than your desired height, then just cut off the main trunk or the central leader.
In evergreens, they will finish growing and spend all their energy thickening. More height above what you need is a disadvantage for several reasons. The first is that if the trees need to be sprayed for bagworms at some point, and they are taller than necessary, it will be more difficult.
A second disadvantage is that during times of stress, such as a dry summer or winter, the tree has to “decide” whether to send the moisture it has to the upper branches and the truck or the lower branches will always send the moisture to the upper branches. branches. upper growth areas and starve the lower extremities. Many people say their row of Leyland cypress trees was fine, so “suddenly” this year they started to show brown on the lower needles. This is because the height reached the point relative to the spacing that results in tension.
The “rule of four” is to space the trees so that the height of the target is no more than 4 times the space between the trunks. Example: You need a 20 ‘high row to block out your neighbor’s house or windows, you can put a space as close as 5’ in the center. That’s as long as you follow it, and when they get 21 or 22 ‘tall, set them 20’ tall. That means each tree will get moisture from a 5 ‘diameter land area with no competition from the tree next to it.
Another advantage is that there will be enough room for a strong 5 ‘diameter root system to secure a 20’ tall tree against the wind. The “zig zag” pattern is a great solution if you can give up some of your own “width” for the privacy screen. Let’s take another example; has a 30 ‘high privacy screen.
For example, to plant a single row of files, you will place an 8 ‘space in the center, 4 times the 8’ spacing = 32 ‘maximum height of the target. If you choose to start with ten Leyland cypress trees tall, they will be 4 feet wide at planting time. That will leave them with 4 ‘of air between each tree and will wait a long time to close.
If you plant two parallel rows, each 8 ‘in the center, but staggered, it will look like there is a tree every 4’, you will have a much quicker closure, but will still have the trees spaced for strength and low stress. In this case, the first row must be 4 ‘from the property line, and the second row must be 8’ from the first.
If your planting site is short on space, you can make the second row 6 ‘from the first row. One note is that the appearance of a tree every 4 ‘is only when you are exactly perpendicular to the row. Also remember that a ten foot Leyland cypress may be 4 feet wide at its widest point, but they also get thinner as they grow.
In this situation, you still need the 8 ‘spacing based on the rule of four, and the “zig zag” pattern will make it close much earlier than a straight row. If they decided on 12 foot trees, they would be 5 feet wide at the widest point, closing would come much quicker.
Trees should be spaced so that the required target height is no more than 4 times the distance between the trunks. If you need a 20 ‘high row to block out your neighbor’s house or windows, you can put up to 5’ space in the center. That’s as long as you follow it, and when they reach 21 or 22 feet tall, put them back at 20 feet tall.
Two advantages are that: Each tree will receive moisture from a 5 ‘diameter land area with no competition from the tree next to it. Another benefit is a strong 5 foot diameter root system that can secure a 20 foot tall tree against the wind.
The “zig-zag” pattern is a great solution if you can give up some of your own “width” for the privacy screen. For example, someone needs a 30 foot high privacy screen. If they use the rule of 4 and plant a single row, they should have 8 ‘of space in the center, 4 times 8’ of space = 32 ‘of maximum height of the target. If you choose to start with 10-foot Leyland cypress trees, they will be 4 feet wide at planting time. That spacing will leave them with 4 feet of space between each tree, it would take a long time to close them together.
If you plant two rows in parallel, each 8 feet in the center, but staggered so that it looks like there is a tree every 4 feet, you will close much faster, but will still have the trees spaced apart to reduce moisture stress and resistance. For this example, the first row should be 4 feet from the property line and the second row should be 8 feet from the first. If you’re short on space, you can make the second row 6 ‘from the first row. One note is that the appearance of a tree every 4 ‘is only when you are exactly perpendicular to the row. Remember that a ten foot Leyland cypress may be 4 feet wide at its widest point, but they also get much thinner towards the tip. In this situation, you still need the 8 ‘spacing based on the rule of four, and the “zig zag” pattern will make it close much earlier than a straight row. If they decided on 12 foot trees, they would be 5 feet wide at the widest point, closing would come much quicker. My clients have been tempted to grow them because when they reach the target height, they will look great. That is the precise moment to finish them off, once they are distressed and the lower needles are removed, nothing will turn them green. Use and distribution of this article are subject to our Editors Guidelines, which must include the information and copyright of the original author.
