You can’t actually stop leylandii growing, just control where it grows. To control the height to which a leylandii (Leyland cypress) tree (or any other conifer) grows, you need to prune it carefully. Leylandii are very suitable for use as hedges as they can handle being pruned. Regular pruning once or twice a year is much better for the plant than one big pruning session when it really gets too tall or wide. Leylandii height and width It helps if…
Speed of leylandii growth Leylandii, also known as Leyland cypress trees, are the fastest growing conifers. In the early years of this plant, it’s not unknown for the tree to grow between 45cm and 90cm in height per year. Of course, this depends on the leylandii having the best growing conditions possible. Over its lifetime, this Leyland cypress can grow to about 18m to 21m high. This tree is dense, with a broad column at the bottom tapering to a…
Some common problems with conifers require you to revive and bring them back to life but remember, they are not actually dead, there are just not in good health. If you peel the bark back and you see green under the bark, then the conifers are likely still alive and can be revived. In this guide, I identify the most usual issues that harm conifers and give ways to refresh and revive your conifer. But be warned that it’s not…
Conifers are easy to care for trees that you shouldn’t trim unless you absolutely have to. You may need to do this task if branches become diseased or die, or end up damaged by high winds. Here’s when and how to trim conifers in general so that you don’t harm the tree. This guide is more about ornamental conifers and not hedging conifers such as Leylandii and Thuja which obviously need trimming 2-3 times a year. Even these conifers should…
Cutting the top off conifers is a drastic move and you should do it only after careful thought. You need to examine the tree for the best place to make the incision so that the tree continues to grow healthily and strongly. And then make the cut cleanly. Be sure you really want to do this as your action may spoil the shape of the conifer permanently. Where to cut the top off conifers Most conifers form new buds at…
Conifer roots, in general, are relatively shallow though they are dense. Most of the roots reside in the top 1m of the soil the tree is in. But this does depend on the soil type and drainage. However, the roots spread wildly. Conifer roots can spread up to three times the radius of the tree canopy. This makes the roots very difficult to dig up but also helps them stay upright in the worst of storms. When young the conifers…
The answer “it depends” to “are conifers poisonous to dogs?” is accurate but not useful when your dog’s health can be affected by what you grow in your garden. I explain what you should know and ask when choosing a conifer for your garden. The short answer is most conifers are not poisonous to dog, however, Yew trees (Taxus species) are poisonous to dogs and yews are a very common conifer which is why I bring it up here. Levels…
Acer trees (also known as Japanese maples) are compact trees suitable for growing in pots. Although some varieties do grow high and wide, they’re so slow growing that you can enjoy even these acers in pots before they get too big. These hardy trees are easy to care for in containers. Choosing your acer tree You have a choice of many varieties of acer trees, some specifically for growing acers in pots. The Acer Japonicum varieties remain as small spreading…
Acer trees (Japanese maples) are slow growing trees, though some varieties will eventually grow high and wide. As such, they’re ideal for planting in containers. But as they grow, you do need to repot an acer tree occasionally to allow enough room for its roots to spread. If this is your first acer and your planting it on a pot for the first time, check out my guide on growing acers in pots here. If you are reporting into a…
Scorched leaves on a Japanese maple (acer) tree are usually the result of environmental stresses. Japanese maples are the maple trees most commonly affected by this problem. Here’s what causes maple leaf scorch and also how to avoid it. Symptoms Acer tree leaf scorch shows up as foliage turning brown, especially around the edges and at the tips. Often the leaves then curl up, shrivel and die. Sometimes branches also die back. Leaf scorch isn’t a problem that causes long-term…