Leylandii: a brief history and some pruning handy tips
Cuprocyparis leylandii is the botanical name for the Leyland cypress or leylandii tree, which is a large evergreen tree The leylandii tree is a member of the cypress family and thrives best in areas with a tropical climate. The leylandii tree can grow up to 60 feet tall and has been known to live up to 200 years. Leylandii trees are also popular because they can be grown as hedges or manicured into topiaries.
Here at Bronzeleaf Tree Surgeons, we offer you some advice on the species and how best to keep these trees maintained.

Leylandii is a fast-growing coniferous evergreen tree much used in horticulture, primarily for hedges and screens. Even on sites of relatively poor culture, plants have been known to grow to heights of 15 metres (49 ft) in 16 years.[2] Their rapid, thick growth means they are sometimes used to achieve privacy, but such use can result in disputes with neighbours whose own property becomes overshadowed.[3] The tree is a hybrid of Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) and Nootka cypress (Cupressus nootkatensis). It is almost always sterile, and is propagated mainly by cuttings. Research is being done to find out why leylandii is losing popularity. One of the reasons might be due to is because leylandii can be difficult to look after. Pruning is essential for good leylandii tree maintenance. They can grow very tall and wide so they need regular trimming to stay in shape.
One type of leylandii in the UK is called Haggerston Grey Leylandii. Nearly all the Green Leylandii in the UK grown for hedging are either Haggerston Grey ley or Leighton Green
How to water your Leylandii
After planting, it is important to make your Leylandii trees get enough water and that the roots never dry out. Leylandii are a shallow-rooted tree and need to be watered well at least once a week. You may also want to use a Leylandii root feeder every 2 weeks, which will help them grow faster, but they prefer wet soil more than fertilizers.
Watch out for drought symptoms
You can tell if the trees are too dry or too wet from looking at their needles. When leylandii trees are dry, their needles will turn yellow and then brown.
Trimming & Maintenance
Leylandii hedges, like all other hedges, need to be trimmed once a year in order to maintain their shape and size. Leylandii tree pruning is usually done between March and May, before the new growth starts to appear.
Another popular option is to trim your leylandii hedge twice a year. You can do this at any point in the year but most people tend to do it in March or April, then again at the end of July or August.
If you do not trim your leylandii hedge each year, it will grow up to 3ft (90cm) a year. This is because leylandii are fast-growing trees and will continue to grow rapidly if they are not trimmed regularly. They will quickly get to a height where you need to call in a professional tree surgeon, please take our number as we have the correct equipment and experience to cover all aspects of Laylandii tree maintenance.
Handy Leylandii trimming tips from Bronzeleaf
Trim your Leylandii hedge back to the same height and width every year. This handy tip is because you can see where it was trimmed the previous year – this ensures it stays the same height and width and doesn’t grow taller or wider each year
You can trim your leylandii hedge with a sharp pair of shears or a hedge trimmer. The hedge trimmer blades should be sharp to ensure that they cut the leylandii branches rather than ripping them off.
Ensure you do not cut back to far to expose the brown dead limbs within the tree. Dead limbs will not re-shoot greenery, so could leave brown scars over your hedge or tree.
If your leylandii hedge is on a boundary with a neighbour, they should be consulted and the leylandii should be trimmed in such a way that it will not affect their leylandii.
Remember that it is your responsibility to maintain the hedge if it is on your property. The Anti-social Behaviour Act (2003) states that you can be fined for not doing so.
If your leylandii hedge needs maintenance, contact our specialist tree surgeons today. We offer a full range of leylandii tree pruning services to keep your hedge looking its best.
Article: Phoenix Marketing